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Sodas are a popular drink around the world. Canned soft drinks are the highest-selling beverages in the USA alone. However, they have next to no nutritional value and are filled with sugar and preservatives that can be harmful to your body.
Reasons to Break Your Soda Addiction
Here are a few harmful effects soft drink consumption has on your health in the long run.
1. Causes tooth decay
Many studies have shown a positive correlation between dental caries, tooth erosion, and soda consumption. Sodas are laden with sugars and phosphoric acid that can cause erosion of enamel from your teeth. (1)(2)
Thus, sodas are especially bad for your dental health. (3)
2. Increases the risk of obesity
The high levels of sugar in soft drinks can lead to obesity due to high calorie consumption. Children who drink too many sugary drinks have a higher risk of being obese.
Obesity can be a risk factor for many metabolic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. (4)(5)
3. Can lead to osteoporosis
Sodas contain a lot of phosphoric acid that may interfere with the calcium phosphate balance of the body. This leads to lower bone density, cavities, decreased calcium levels, and joint pain. (6)(7)
4. Increases the risk of arthritis
The high amount of processed sugar in soda drinks can trigger inflammatory responses in the body. This causes an increased risk of arthritis in women.
Arthritis can cause moderate to severe joint pains, especially in postmenopausal women. (8)
5. Contributes to heart disease
The excessive sugar in soda can put you at risk of heart disease as well. Various studies have reported the link between sugar and heart diseases. Drinking excess soda can increase your cholesterol levels, cause metabolic disorders such as diabetes, etc. (9)
A 2009 study found that people who regularly consumed soda or sugar-filled drinks had a significantly higher risk of having a heart attack. The risk factor increased by 20% in men and a whopping 40% in women. (10)(11)
6. Can cause type 2 diabetes
A single can of soda can contain more than 9–10 teaspoons of sugar. A regular habit of drinking soda can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 20%.
Several studies have found that diet soda is not much better either. It is loaded with artificial sweeteners and chemicals that are harmful to you in the long run. (12)
7. Affects kidney function
Beverages that are loaded with sugar can cause kidney stones, especially in men.
Drinks that contain fructose and phosphoric acid, in particular, can be very harmful to your kidneys. They can cause uric acid and calcium kidney stones and increase your risk of kidney disease. (13)(14)(15)
8. Increases cancer risk
Yes, soda can also put you at risk of cancer! Most soft drinks contain phosphoric acid as a preservative. (16) Excessive consumption of this chemical has been linked to gall bladder cancer, breast cancer, and potentially lung cancer. (17)
9. Causes belching and heartburn
Soft drinks contain carbon dioxide that is released as a gas in your stomach. This can cause stomach aches, gas, heartburn, and acidity. The carbon dioxide gas travels upward through the gastrointestinal tract, causing burping and belching. (18)
10. Induces gout pain
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes severe joint pain and inflammation. It develops due to excessive amounts of uric acid in the body.
Regular soda consumption can increase your risk of gout as sugary drinks have been linked to an increase in uric acid crystals. (19)(20)
ALSO READ: 9 Benefits When You Stop Drinking Soda
What Are Soda Alternatives?
There are many healthier options for soda drinkers: Fresh fruit juices made at home or sourced locally, coffee and tea instead of caffeinated sodas, and lemonade.
Final Word
Soft drinks have become a common part of the food culture today. However, they have way too many harmful effects on the body.
Most sodas are loaded with calories, processed sugars, preservatives, etc., and do not have any nutritional or beneficial value. They can even be addictive for many people.
Ditch your can of soda for healthier alternatives such as smoothies, juices, and lemonade.
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