Statistics shows that Americans drink more soda than ever before. They account for more than 25 percent of all drinks consumed in the United States. More than 15 billion gallons were sold in 2000 -- about one 12-ounce can per day for every man, woman and child.
But here’s some information that may keep you away from opening the can:
1. Extra pounds
Soda is a significant contributor to obesity. Drinking a single can a day of sugary drinks translates to more than a pound of weight gain every month. And diet soda is just as likely to cause weight gain as regular, or even more -- it may sound counterintuitive, but people who drink diet soft drinks actually don’t lose weight. Artificial sweeteners induce a whole set of physiologic and hormonal responses that actually make you gain weight.
2. Liver damage
Soda damages your liver. Consumption of too many soft drinks puts you under increased risk for liver cirrhosis similar to the increased risk faced by chronic alcoholics.
3. Tooth decay
Soda dissolves tooth enamel. Soft drinks are responsible for doubling or tripling the incidence of tooth decay. Soda's acidity is even worse for teeth than the solid sugar found in candy.
4. Kidney stones and chronic kidney disease
Colas of all kinds are well known for their high phosphoric acid content, a substance that changes the urine in a way that promotes kidney stone formation. Drinking one quart (less than three 12-ounce cans) of soda per week may increase your risk of developing kidney stones by 15 percent.
5. Diabetes
Anything that promotes weight gain increases the risk of diabetes. Drinking soda also stresses your body's ability to process sugar. Some scientists now suspect that this may explain why the number of Americans with type 2 diabetes has tripled from 6.6 million in 1980 to 20.8 million today.
6. Heartburn & acid reflux
Heavy consumption of soda is a strong predictor of heartburn. Many carbonated beverages are very acidic. They also deliver a lot of air in the form of carbon dioxide, which can cause distension of your stomach. And that distension appears to be associated with more reflux.
7. Soft drinks = Soft Bones = Osteoporosis
Soft drinks containing phosphoric acid are definitely linked to osteoporosis (a weakening of your skeletal structure) because they lead to lower calcium levels and higher phosphate levels in your blood. When phosphate levels are high and calcium levels are low, calcium is pulled out of your bones.
8. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Experts have reasons to believe that overconsumption of soda leads to an increase in blood pressure. It doesn't matter if the soda is regular or diet.
9. Heart disease
Heavy soda drinkers are more likely to develop risk factors for heart disease. Research shows that drinking more than one soft drink a day is associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome -- a group of symptoms such as central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar, elevated fasting triglycerides, and low levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol. Having three or more of the symptoms increases your risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
10. Impaired digestion (gastrointestinal distress)
Gastrointestinal distress includes increased stomach acid levels requiring acid inhibitors, and moderate to severe gastric inflammation with possible stomach lining erosion. Drinking sodas, especially on an empty stomach, can upset the fragile acid-alkaline balance of your stomach and other gastric lining, creating a continuous acid environment. This prolonged acid environment can lead to inflammation of your stomach and duodenal lining.
Sources:
Squidoo January 23, 2009
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Add a Comment5 Comments
WOW, thanks for the information. I was a chronic soda drinker and when I was 21 years old, I had kidney stones due to drinking it in excess. This is very true and since that time, I only drink it occasionally. I would rather not have my carbonated drink than have a reassurance of kidney stones.
February 22, 2009 - 4:08pmThis Comment
WOW this is terrible! I love diet cola and have much of it daily. So now I see I really need to stop. I have been having chest pains - so now I wonder....under DR. care - many test - not the heart....
Is unsweet ice tea an ok sub while I come off the caffine?
Thank you for the article -
February 21, 2009 - 9:03pmThis Comment
I'm like you Diane - diet soda was a frequent companion - until I had a kidney stone.
Now it is still part of my diet but a much smaller part and water goes along with it. I haven't had a recurrence since (and would NEVER want to) :-)
February 19, 2009 - 6:13pmThis Comment
Well, let me be the different one in the bunch.
While I don't like regular soft drinks -- honestly, they are just too sweet for me -- I have had an on-again, off-again love affair with diet cola for most of my adult life. It is a substitute for dessert, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or even (true fact) sometimes a morning drink for me because I just don't like coffee, but yearn for the caffeine.
Many times, I've cut out soda for a while. It always seems to pull me back. The sweetness, the carbonation and the chill of it are a combination that's hard for me to resist.
So Virginia, these facts are really eye-opening to me. And yet difficult, because I've yet to find an easy, readily available drink that I like as much as diet cola. I do drink water (though not enough), but I still hear the soda calling.
Sigh. More work for me to do here, clearly.
February 19, 2009 - 9:43amThis Comment
Thanks for this valuable info, Virginia! I've always kept sodas away from my kids as much as possible, letting them have one as a "treat," like at a friend's birthday party or a dinner out. I've known how they impact your body's ability to process sugar and how bad they are for your teeth. I never buy sodas unless I'm having friends over and want to offer beverage choices. Interestingly, I've always had problems digesting carbonated drinks, but didn't realize until I just now read your post that they're so high in acidity. This totally makes sense since I have GERD. I guess my body was telling me that soda's bad.....
I'm going to share your post on a moms' web site so they can be better educated when it comes to their kids and sodas.
February 18, 2009 - 10:41amThis Comment