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Why is Soda Bad for You?
As a consumer, you should be aware of the dangers of regular soda consumption. As a former Coke Zero junkie, these facts helped motivate me to make the decision to give them up forever.Soda:
- contains high fructose corn syrup, which is proving to be especially dangerous. I wrote about the dangers of HFCS here.
- has been directly linked to an increase in obesity
- has been directly linked to an increase in type 2 diabetes [1] [2]. This includes diet soda. Read more about diet soda and weight gain here.
- coincides with a decrease in the intake of nutritious foods and beverages [3]
- more than 40% increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, even after other unhealthy lifestyle or dietary factors are accounted for [4]
- has been linked to the build up of visceral (belly) fat, which is in and around the liver and organs, and associated with the deadly metabolic syndrome [5]
- has been shown to increase cholesterol by 11% [6]
- has been proven to decrease insulin sensitivity [7]
- contains caramel coloring (made with ammonia), which has been linked to cancer in mice [8]
- lowers the body’s ability to regulate appetite (leptin resistance) [9]
- contain phosphates, which accelerate aging and caused lab rats to die sooner [10] Here are 10 more dangerous food additives to avoid.
- artificial sweeteners found in diet soda do not break down in our bodies and pollute the water supply, putting organisms at risk as well as contaminating drinking water [11]
- cause cavities and tooth decay with a pH level that is almost as acidic as battery acid
- citrus flavored drinks like Mountain Dew contain BVO, which is a flame retardant and is suspected in behavioral problems, infertility, memory loss, nerve disorders, and heart lesions [12]
- aluminum cans may contain BPA, linked with fertility disorders, reproductive cancers, obesity and diabetes [13]
- contain high levels of genetically modified corn from HFCS
- diet soda was shown to cause a 2x rate of kidney function decline [14]
- can cause osteoporosis [15]
- artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas have been linked to migraines and headaches as well as visual disturbances [16]
- can cause dehydration
- preservatives found in diet soda (sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate) cause cell damage by destroying mitochondria in DNA, and also linked to hives, asthma, and other allergic conditions [17]
- aspartame (also known as Neotame), an artificial sweetener found in diet soda, is a known excitotoxin which causes brain damage by “exciting” your brain neurons to death. [18]
- Pilots in the US are advised against ingesting anything containing aspartame because of the risk of seizures and visual disturbances. [19]
- aspartame is converted to formaldehyde in the body and builds up in the brain. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.
- the pH level of soda will cause body inflammation and age your skin
- diet soda has been linked to depression [20]
The occasional diet or sugar-sweetened beverage probably isn’t going to hurt you, but like many processed foods these beverages can be addicting, leaving us wanting more and more every day. If you’re a regular consumer of these drinks, I urge you to consider cutting back for the sake of your health. As I found myself after 15 years of drinking diet sodas every day, it’s never too late to reverse the damage!
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