Jun. 30, 2007 - I'm not addicted to caffeine...
Am I?
My hubby would say that I am, and I suppose that since I get a horrible headache if I don't have my Coke every day that I could be classified as a caffeine addict. I've just got to have my Coke, and I'm not sure that much of anything will convince me otherwise!
Now, my kids don't drink soda, and are always asking why they can't have it... My only answer is, "because I said so," but I can't tell them that it's because it's bad for them. Kids are too quick to point fingers. Besides they know the meaning of the word "hypocrite"!
This list of 10 Reasons Why You Should Stop Drinking Soda is really more for my benefit, than anything, but I hope you find it helpful in convincing yourself that soda is BAD!
1. Dehydration. Because caffeine is a diuretic, it increases urine volume. So, when you drink a caffeinated soda to quench your thirst, you actually become thirstier.
2. High calories. A can of regular soda contains over 150 calories! Not only are they devoid of any nutritional value, but they also deplete your body of vital nutrients.
3. Caffeine addiction. According to a university study, "When some people don't get their usual dose of caffeine, they can suffer a range of withdrawal symptoms including headache, fatigue, muscle pain and inability to concentrate.”
4. Acid. The amount of acid in soda is enough to wear away at the enamel of your teeth. In tests done on the acidity levels of soda, certain ones were found to have PH levels as low as 2.5. To put that into perspective, consider that battery acid has a pH of 1 and pure water has a pH of 7.
5. Money. A person who drinks just 2 cans of soda a day will pay more than $200 over the course of a year. With more than one soda drinker in the house, that yearly total could quickly multiply!
6. Weight gain. According to university researchers, "Artificial sweeteners can interfere with the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake. This could mean that people who consume artificially sweetened items are more likely to overindulge."
7. Artificial sweeteners. Studies continue to uncover the potential harmful effects of artificial sweeteners – and many of the effects are still unknown! Who wants to take that risk?
8. Mineral depletion. Sodas contain phosphoric acid and caffeine, which drain calcium from the bones. Also, because caffeine increases urine volume, more minerals leave the body before having a chance to be properly absorbed.
9. Diabetes. Some scientists believe that the unceasing demands a soda habit places on the pancreas may ultimately leave it unable to keep up with the body's need for insulin – eventually leading to diabetes. While no studies have definitively proved this, the daily consumption of soda does contribute to other problems, such as obesity – a leading cause of diabetes.
10. Replaces healthier drinks. In the 1950's, children drank 3 cups of milk for every cup of a sweet drink. Today that statistic has flipped. Less amounts of milk in the average diet could account for lower bone density and higher occurrences of osteoporosis later in life.
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