Kick the (Soda) Habit
While the debate rages on about whether or not sodas should
be banned in schools and major cities, one thing is for certain:
each individual can make a personal choice to limit or quit drinking sodas altogether. What about you? Are you ready to
kick the colas and discover how to quit drinking soda for good?
Let us give you some incentive: Did you know that if you drank two cans of soda per day, you would gain approximately one pound every two weeks or about 26 pounds in a year? If this doesn’t motivate you to surrender your soda habit, we have more reasons to quit—some of them may surprise you.
The following list outlines some of the most commonly shared reasons to stop drinking soda…but we bet you could come up with even more!
- Soda is associated with higher body weight and weight gain.
- Drinking soda is linked to diseases, like liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and skin conditions like acne.
- Soda may prematurely age your skin. Some of the research identifies an association between drinking soda (and sugar intake) with a greater chance of wrinkles and other signs of aging.
- Drinking soda can zap your energy. Soda is very high in sugar, which leads to a quick spike in blood sugar with an imminent and sharp drop soon after, called a blood sugar crash.
- Soda damages your teeth. It contains acids (like phosphoric acid and carbonic acid) and this can adjust the pH to a more acidic environment in the mouth, which contributes to tooth decay. When increased acidity meets added sugar, the effects are even more destructive.
How to Stop Drinking Soda.
If you’re trying to stop drinking soda, check out some of our favorite tips.
- Try to avoid getting too hungry. As we know, hunger can dictate cravings, and this includes soda as well.
- When the craving for soda arises, choose a sweet (and healthy) treat. Replacing a sweet soda with a sweet snack (grapes, pineapples) or sugarfree gum may help to curve the desire.
- Find a replacement. Keep flavored or infused sparkling water, green tea, and other drinks on hand.
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