As I am sitting at my desk I glance over and see that there are 4 empty cans of soda. I ponder and say to myself, 'Have I really had 4 cans of soda in the last two hours?' So I take a look at the nutrition facts on the can. Serving Size: 1 can (355 ml), Calories: 170, Sodium: 35mg, Total carbohydrates: 44g, Sugars: 44g, Protein: 0g. That doesn't sound too healthy so I do some research.
Some people drink soda as if it is water, some even instead of water. The primary ingredient is water, but, with all the other stuff it contains it can have a toxic and seriously harmful effect on your entire body.
Soda (or carbonated soft drinks) has an alarming amount of sugar, calories and harmful additives in it that have absolutely no nutritional value. Studies have linked soda to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease. Despite this, soda accounts for more than one-quarter of all drinks consumed in the United States -- and we wonder why we can't lose weight and why we have health problems!
So very often our health problems do not begin on their own. We encourage illness and disease little-by-little every day by not preventing their cause. We know better, we try to fool ourselves, but our bodies' cells can't be fooled about what we put in our mouths. I hope the next time you look at a can of soda pop you take note of the ingredients and smarten up for the good of your own healthy lifespan and that of your children and grandchildren. What you are about to read should turn you away from sodas altogether.
Here's what's in soda:
Phosphoric Acid: May interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients.
Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects. Most sodas include over 100 percent of the RDA of sugar.
Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. Further, when aspartame is stored for long periods of time or kept in warm areas it changes to methanol, an alcohol that converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, which are known carcinogens.
Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks can cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer.
Other studies show that phosphorus, a common ingredient in soda, can deplete bones of calcium. Well, now I know soda really is as bad as people say. That explains all my cavities!
Author's Note: All information in this article was found at: http://www.oleda.com/oleda_tips/tips.asp?dept=48
