For some, soda is an enjoyment part of their meal. For others, it’s something they can’t live without. If soda has become an addiction for you—or even if you just enjoy the occasional one here and there, science shows us that it pays to curb your habit altogether. Here are the top reasons why.
You Might Get Your Youthful Glow Back
Have you ever wondered why Dr. Pepper, Coke or Pepsi is the brown, caramel color it is? Soda doesn’t just contain artificial preservatives and additives, along with high fructose corn syrup. It also contains phosphorus acid, which has been linked to tooth decay, and phosphates, which have been shown to actually speed up the aging process! If you’re serious about cultivating that youthful glow, exuberant energy level and keep the wrinkles at bay, give up soda. It could be the very reason you haven’t been your usual, energetic self.
You’ll Improve Your Oral Health
As you age, oral health issues will probably come up, because no matter how diligently you brush and floss, the bacteria and acidity from the foods you eat will eat away at your enamel—causing a cavity here, or a root canal there. One of the worst things you can consume is soda. Soda has been proven to speed up tooth decay (and in particular, tooth erosion), due to the citric acid chemical that is found in both regular and diet soda. In fact, in a study done where its participants drank two liters of soda a day for three years, they showed the same amount of tooth erosion as someone with a cocaine addiction. Stop the soda habit, and you’ll radically improve your oral health.
Tips to Wean Yourself Off of the Habit
Soda consumption is a habit, and depending on how much you love a can of bubbly, it could be a flat-out addiction. To get your health back on track, here are a few tips to detox from soda, and never touch the stuff again:
• Keep fresh fruit on hand at all times. Add fresh fruit to sparkling or still water and you’ll reteach your taste buds to love the taste of clean drinking once again.
• Wean yourself off of it nice and easy. If you have a serious soda habit, go nice and steady. You don’t have to quit cold turkey. Instead, start off by minimizing your habit to one soda per day, and then one soda per week.
• Continue to educate yourself about the chemicals you’re putting in your body. When it comes to knocking your soda habit for good, consider knowledge the power you need to quit. When you educate yourself about what the chemicals are doing to your energy level, waistline, and even sleep patterns, you can become motivated to make the switch from soda to healthier drink alternatives.
Quitting soda is important, and for some, it could be life changing. Focus on healthier, carbonated drinks that will still give you a jolt of energy—but without the nasty side effects soda does. Soon, you’ll find that your appetite has gone down, your weight loss results have increased, and you’ve never felt better.
