Sinister Soda

It’s summer time and nothing sounds better then an ice cold soda on a hot summer day, right? Bringing back memories of carefree childhood days, hours by the pool and fun with friends. But it’s that nostalgia that keeps people from seeing what that fizzy drink really is, toxic. Any way you slice it, there isn’t one natural ingredient in a can of soda. Not even the carbonated water is natural as the Co2 is added, not sourced from a sparkling spring. That being said, every ingredient found in your favorite icy beverage is man made, in a lab or factory and therefore, not remotely good for you. Even that taste you love so much is nothing but flavoring that some guy in a white coat made up. What you’re tasting is a chemical, not a real flavor.

Drinking soft drinks on a regular basis is one of the most harmful things you can do to your body. Even cutting down to a few times a week doesn’t do you any good. I know folks who think that knocking back a few Cokes a week is moderation but I hate to burst their bubble, it’s not. Maybe once a month but that’s as much as you should, ideally, ever ingest.  From diabetes and cavities, to ulcers and bone loss, your sweet escape is speeding up your personal expiration date ten fold.

I’m sure everyone at this point knows that sodas are basically liquid candy. I don’t think there is a soul out there who hasn’t heard that the amount of sugar in a can of soda is the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. Just for kicks, measure out 10 teaspoons of sugar and put it into a bowl. You’d be surprised how much that really is. Try adding all of that sugar into a glass of water and take a sip. Gross! Well, that’s what’s in your average 12 ounces of soda pop. The negative health effects of that much sugar in 1 glass of soda, per day, is outrageous. Now multiply that by a few glasses a day, every day of every week. Here’s a list, just to name a few reasons why sugar, especially in these amounts, are harmful to your health:

1. Suppresses the immune system
2. Decreases fertility
3. Leads to tooth decay
4. Causes hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and severe mood swings
5. Weakens eyesight
6. Produces acid in the digestive track
7. Can cause premature aging
8. Can cause gallstones.
9. Can cause heart disease.
10. Can cause appendicitis.
11. Can cause multiple sclerosis.
12. Can cause hemorrhoids.
13. Can cause varicose veins.
14. Can impair the structure of DNA
15. Can change the structure of protein.

I could list 150 unsightly health benefits of what sugar can and will do to your body but we must move on to the next ingredient found in soda, sodium. For a comprehensive list of what sugar (especially low quality, crap sugar like high fructose corn syrup) check out this list compiled by Dr. Nancy Apleton, PhD.

I bet you had no idea that along with a mountain of sugar on your chilly drink, there is also a ton of sodium. Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in soft drinks and is linked to asthma, eczema, kidney stones and more. In fact, the increased rate of kidney stones in children has skyrocketed over the past 20 years due to the over-consumption of soft drinks. Additionally, the sodium can increase dehydration as it sucks the water out of your cells. Ladies, that equals cellulite among many more health problems!

Next to the high amounts of sugar, phosphorus is just as toxic to your body when it comes to sippin’ on sodas. Those who consume high amounts of phosphorus will have increased bone loss and damaged arteries if they haven’t already. Phosphates leach calcium from bones, creating holes and weakening them, while leaking into your blood stream, damaging your arteries and ultimately your heart. Carbonation in beverages can cause excess acidity in the stomach leading to ulcers and even lesions in the esophagus from acid reflux, lesions that could become cancerous.

Obviously, the artificial colors and flavors added are nothing but chemicals. You wouldn’t drink the cleaning products under the sink, right? Well, the stuff that makes up you artificial colors and flavorings isn’t far from what’s in your glass cleaner. Yep!

In dark colas, caffeine is part of the recipe and just another little doozy to worry about. The effects of caffeine on a regular basis are raised cortisol levels which leads to weight gain, moodiness, heart disease. It affects your natural hormone levels and can lead to sleeplessness and increased stress. Sound like fun? Even worse, if you can believe it gets worse, are the colored soft drinks. Mountain Dew, Sunkist, Fanta, etc have even more sugar then the world’s most poplar cola but boast a rainbow of carcinogens, but namely yellow #5, etc. This artificial color is made of coal and tar, basically sodium benzoate & when combined with vitamin C, it’s bad news. Causing Parkinson’s disease, cancers and cirrhosis of the liver. Oh, and one more thing, Mountain Dew contains BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil), an ingredient that has been banned in over 100 countries but not here in the good old U.S. of A. ; )

Now, to add fuel to the fire, the diet drinks that boast no sugar or calories are just as poisonous if not more so then their full sugar counterparts. Aspartame & saccharin are derivatives of petroleum (yep, gasoline!) and is linked to a number of cancers and tumors. It contains methyl/wood alcohol, breaking down into formaldehyde and is known to affect brain development, especially in fetuses.

In addition to the horrific ingredients found in the beverage, sugary beverages are packaged in either plastic bottles or cans. Both of which leach toxic chemicals into the contents of the container. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles release small amounts of carcinogenic chemicals into the liquid while those stored in aluminum can absorb it, leading to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia and more.

Loss of calcium leads to bone loss, to much phosphorus in the blood can lead to cancer, artificial sweeteners equals brain tumors, etc. Still want to reach for that icy cold can in the cooler?  Yeah, I didn’t think so ; )

If you’re missing your pop, here are a few alternatives to conventional sodas that can help you kick the habit while missing none of the yum:

• Steaz
• Zevia
• Taylor’s Tonics
• Reeds

Again, choose water and natural libations whenever possible but if you have a hankering for something fizzy, be smart when you go for the ice chest 😉 Have a happy & healthy summer!!

*Natural News is one of my resources as well as my class notes and text books from my masters program.