Soft drinks are bubbling around us everywhere we go, but they have never been a staple in our household. Before Alton and I were married, my favorite one was a Tab with lime. But, no more. I’ve learned a lot about soft drinks since then, and here are nine reasons you’ll not find one in my house.
- They contain high-fructose corn syrup and sugar. Either one contributes to weight gain and visceral fat around organs. If a person drinks just one soda each day while eating the same calories, it could lead to an increase of 15 pounds per year. There is also evidence from a 2015 study showing sugar-sweetened drinks including fructose and glucose raise your risk of high blood pressure, inflammation, stroke, and coronary heart disease. My doctor at Duke University recommended that I get off all soft drinks for the sugar and caffeine over 50 years ago.
- Diet Sodas aren’t much better. Sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin tend to alter the gut microbiome, which can open the door to many issues. Remember that 70-80% of your immune cells are located in your gut. What happens in your gut impacts the rest of your body. These artificial sweeteners are being studied for their links to cancer, but with varying results. Just consider these sweeteners to be another chemical that is not good for your body.
According to Dr. Jacob Wolfe with University Hospitals, “Although diet sodas do not contain sugar, the artificial sweeteners, flavor enhances, and other chemical additives can be harmful to your health. One to two diet sodas per day can have negative health effects.” Aspartame has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcinogenic to humans. There are also concerns about its impact on neurological function and metabolism. But according to Mayo Clinic expert, Dr. Donald Hensrud, “Although the level of risk is minimal in low amounts, the risk may go up over time.”
- Sodas erode tooth enamel. Simply put, all sodas are highly acidic. In a test tube study, it was found that both diet and regular sodas can significantly affect tooth enamel, which can contribute to tooth erosion. Just ask your dentist. There is also evidence that acids in soda exacerbate ulcers and acid reflux disease. Many integrative doctors believe that sodas acidify the overall body.
- Sodas can decrease bone density. Soft drinks contain phosphoric acid that can negatively affect bone health and bone loss. Phosphorus is a chemical element that is an essential nutrient for life. It plays a role in DNA and cell energy. Phosphoric acid is a compound made from phosphorus. Excessive phosphorus acid changes the calcium-phosphorus ratio and also acid-base in the body resulting in decreased bone density and even osteoporosis. A typical 8-ounce Coca-Cola contains 37.5 mg of phosphoric acid.
- Sodas are not recommended before or during acclimation to higher altitudes. Both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, and most but not all sodas contain caffeine. Soft drinks with caffeine are not hydrating, so when adjusting to higher altitudes, it’s best to focus on drinking water and other hydrating beverages. But with all of our bodies’ hydration needs, shouldn’t we always be drinking beverages that are hydrating? When our family went to Sante Fe, New Mexico, and later to Breckenridge, Colorado, my boys were warned not to drink soft drinks in the days and hours before. Evidentially, they were not listening. Two of them suffered altitude sickness, and one of the reasons was drinking soft drinks on the plane.
- Many sodas contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO). BVO is a food additive banned in Europe, but allowed in the U.S. It’s one of many harmful food additives that are not adequately regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. According to the Environmental Working Group, brominated compounds have been linked to numerous health hazards over time such as headaches, fatigue, skin and mucous membrane irritations, and loss of muscle coordination and memory.
- Sodas are mainly a chemical drink. Sodas contain no essential nutrients. Instead, they are mainly drinks filled with chemicals and sugar. They generally offer no hydration benefits.
- Sodas can be addictive. These sugary drinks, which may contain caffeine, can have powerful effects on your brain and can lead to addiction. When that Duke University doctor told me that I needed to get off all sodas and drinks with sugar and caffeine, I actually had withdrawal symptoms.
- Sodas have a link to cancer. One study with 60,000 adults found that those who drank two or more sugary sodas or juices per week were 87% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. This makes me wonder if sodas are one of the reasons people are being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
If this information has made you think twice about drinking sodas, join the club. These reasons are why there is no soda in my house. I’m a big believer in drinking for both hydration and for health. But a word of caution. Usually, the changeover must be gradual to prevent withdrawal symptoms if your soda has both caffeine and high sugar content.
Here are some alternative drinks that are hydrating and have nutrients:
Water with a squirt of lemon or lime
Herbal teas either hot or cold (no caffeine)
Seltzer water with lemon or lime
Coconut water
Fresh-squeezed juices and whole food smoothies
Do you have sodas in your home? If so, do you impose limits on them? As for me and my house, we have no sodas!
View this message on YouTube:
Nine Reasons I Don’t Drink Sodas
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, a finalist in Serious Writers Book of the Decade, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com. Ginny is on YouTube
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***** This content is strictly the opinion of Ginny Brant and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Ginny Brant nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. *****
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