Can’t Lose Weight? Soda’s Dirty Little Secret

Are you having trouble losing weight? Do you have a drinking problem? If you are drinking soda on a daily basis, the answer to both questions is probably yes.

Last year the New York City health department released a rather disgusting video showing a man drinking great globs of fat from a soft drink can. The point? Consuming sugary soft drinks every day adds hundreds of calories, packs on pounds, and leads to a host of health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

Take a look at reaction to the video:

After watching that video, it’s going to be hard to think about soda without picturing piles of fat flowing from the glass.

My last post, Self-Serve Soda Fountains Serving Up Fecal Bacteria, inspired some interesting comments. Readers were understandably disgusted by the fecal bacteria found in some self-serve soda fountains, and many took the opportunity to comment about soda itself. Neither regular or diet soft drinks offer any health benefits and may be harmful when consumed on a regular basis. It is the king of all junk foods.

Forget that the label says “0 fat.” Soft drinks are laden with sugar. When you take in more calories than your body needs, excess sugar is converted to fat.

In years past, soft drinks were a special treat, something you enjoyed only occasionally, but consumption of soft drinks has become a daily habit, with some people indulging at every meal as well as in between. It’s easy to overlook the extra calories in a drink, but if you partake of this sweet beverage daily, you are literally pouring on the pounds and putting your health at risk.

The American Diabetes Association cautions that diet soda has been linked to developing metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease including high blood pressure, blood fat (cholesterol) problems, and higher than normal blood glucose levels.

For children, the odds of becoming obese increase by 60 percent with each additional daily serving of sugar-sweetened drinks, according to a study from the Department of Medicine at Children’s Hospital in Boston and the Harvard School of Public Health. The results of the study suggest that the link between soft drink consumption and obesity is independent of food intake, television viewing, and physical activity.

Water, on the other hand, flushes toxins and carries nutrients to your cells — without adding a single calorie.

Whether it comes from a bacterial laden self-serve soda fountain or from a can, if soda is a mainstay of your diet, you’ve got a drinking problem… and probably a weight problem.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Michael K.

6:49AM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

Out of intrest on the post before mine, I found info on a natural sweetner that helps bones and looks healthy

SUSTA Natural Sweetener is a proprietary blend of non-caloric ingredients that can put the “brakes” on higher glycemic foods or beverages from adversely effecting your blood sugar. Products using SUSTATM Natural Sweetener are high fiber, with nutrients and minerals, no or low fats and have no added trans or hydrogenated fats. SUSTATM is great energy and nutrition for your heart, bones, and immune system.

send a green star

6:45AM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

I have not read about bones and deit soda, and would it matter what type or sweetner is used?

Nicole P.

9:50PM PST on Feb 21, 2010

I also bought from www.medsheaven.com before and I highly recommend them, their medicines are authentic, medsheaven is the best online pharmacy

Leanne B.

12:51AM PST on Feb 19, 2010

Thanks

Sandy L.

11:45PM PST on Feb 13, 2010

Wow who would have thought it did so much harm!!!I wonder if the CEO of coke, drinks it everyday,and If any of the top management have any metabolic disorders or cancer of the pancreas???Does anyone know?????????It's amazing to see how much greed does to other's health by selling these products!

Lori K.

10:47PM PST on Feb 13, 2010

I quit drinking soda about 2 years ago. My oldest daughter stopped years ago, due to bone density issues, and I felt if she could do it, so could I.

My younger daughter and my son are both soda addicts. They are facing major issues trying to quit. Who would have though that soda was so addictive? Hopefully the revolting stuff will soon come with a warning label. Had I known what I know now, I never would have given it to them.

Louise W.

8:26PM PST on Feb 13, 2010

very important.thank you.

Bailey C.

2:33PM PST on Feb 12, 2010

I hate soda!

Jess G.

1:55PM PST on Feb 9, 2010

I drink way to much Pepsi. About 64oz a day.
I am trying to give it up but it's super hard, because soda is everywhere.

Really I almost feel like a drug addict trying to kick drugs.
So how I'm kicking the habit is going cold turkey and when I need something other than water I drink homemade tea, not that sugary crap they sell at the stores.
Hopefully within the year I will still be soda free!!

Ann G.

8:15AM PST on Jan 29, 2010

When I was growing up, my parents never let me drink soda. Now, I don't even like it. I much prefer Club Soda, which has the bubbly feel of a soda but is just carbonated water in reality.