Well, maybe that’s a little extreme, and I may be exaggerating a bit. But I got your attention, didn’t I? Although drinking too much soda may not directly kill us, it can cause serious health concerns such as obesity, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and even certain cancers, not to mention a mouthful of cavities.
The 3 big problems with soda are the amounts of caffeine, sugar and calories.
Caffeine: A 12-ounce cup of soda has between 30 to 50 mg of caffeine, depending on the type of soda. According to the Mayo Clinic, an adolescent should consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine daily. But that’s not to say you should use up your daily caffeine intake on soda. Tea is a much healthier option.
Sugar: Soda is another word for sugar. With high fructose corn syrup as its main ingredient and added sugar to top it off, a 12-ounce cup of soda contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar, much more than our recommended daily value of 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men. (I know, it’s not fair!)
Calories: When drinking soda, the calories add up quickly. With drinks, our body does not realize that it’s full as fast as when we consume solids. Therefore, we tend to drink more, racking up the calorie count!
I don’t remember the last time I had a cup of soda; it’s simply because I don’t like it. (The bubbly-ness gets to me.) When I was in middle school, my mother decided to make our refrigerator soda-free. Although the rest of my family still liked soda, by eliminating it in our house, it significantly reduced the consumption of soda. Because soda is no longer served in most schools, soda became a drink only for parties and other such occasions.
Instead of soda, stocking your refrigerator with milk, water and 100% whole fruit juices will get you on the path to a healthier you!
Sources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/caffeine/AN01211/METHOD=print
