Say No To Soda

Say No to Soda, Yes to Healthy Drinks
Learn five reasons why soda is bad for you and five healthy drinks that are better for quenching your thirst.
By Dennis Thompson Jr.
Medically reviewed by PatF. Bass III, MD, MPH
Sodas are sweet, sparkling and tasty — but don't confuse them with a healthy drink. Doctors have discovered a ton of health risks connected with drinking soda pop. Worse, you'rerobbing yourself of a healthy drink alternative brimming with needed vitamins and minerals every time you chug down a soft drink.
"If you're choosing a soda, chances are you aren't choosing ahealthy beverage," says Keri M. Gans, a nutrition consultant in New York City and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. There are a number of healthy drink choices you can make instead.
WhySay No to Soda?
* Soda is truly worthless to your body. "In my opinion, there's really one major reason to not drink soda," Gans says. "It has absolutely no nutritional value. Soda is filled withsugar and calories and nothing else." Even diet sodas — low to no calories and sugar — don’t have any redeeming virtues, nutritionally. Healthy drinks, on the other hand, have vitamins and mineralsthe body can use. Even plain water can rehydrate your body without adding extra calories to your diet.
* Sugary sodas contribute to obesity and diabetes. Soda is loaded with high-fructose cornsyrup, a sweetener that has been linked to obesity. Soda consumption also has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, both due to its sugar content and its effects on the body's hormones. Anddiet soda? It may not be any better. At least one study has linked artificial sweeteners, such as those used in diet sodas, to increased appetite, greater difficulty losing weight, and a harder timemaintaining weight loss.
* Soda damages your teeth. The sugar in soda coats your teeth, combining with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. Both regular and diet soda also contain carbolic acid...