The Evils of Pop/Soda (Read 1198 times)

Here's a couple of reasons that I don't drink soda: 1. I don't really like the taste (I don't tend to consume sweet foods or beverages.) Discount that, doesn't apply to others. 2. In the case of Coke specifically (as you mention) I don't trust drinking anything that does such a good job of cleaning my toilet. (Coke is the second best cleaning solution around after vinegar.) 3. Soda is full of a sugars with little nutritional value. Many people run to keep their weight under control, and consuming the extra calories in a soda is counter-productive. Gatorade also falls into this category (although it tends to be fewer calories and not quite as bad) - I suggest using it during workouts and not drinking it as an every hour beverage. (Relevant article: Cut out sugar water to reduce weight gain) 4. Many sodas contain caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive substance and is worse for you than alcohol or tobacco, mostly because you don't consider the health implications of drinking it all day every day and we get our kids hooked on it at a much younger age than we do either of the other two vices. 5. Water is cheaper. My general suggestion is to keey yourself well hydrated with water by carrying a water bottle around and generally drinking water instead of the other alternatives. Having a soda on occasion is fine, but water is the best thing for you and by drinking it the majority of the time you'll tend to be better off. My 5 pence.

Déjà vu

For some reason this reminds me that I should call my dad....

I drink far too much Diet Mountain Dew, but I don't know if I'll ever consider it as bad as alcohol or tobacco. I can function in my daily life while consuming caffeine -- most alcoholics can't really function. Of course, it's eating away at my bones, so there's that... Still, I'm pretty sure lighting up a pack a day might kill me a little more quickly. Either way, one should avoid all those things, obviously. I'll confess I'm addicted to DMD. I get plenty of water, don't get me wrong. I drink it all day, in fact (or my mouth would get dry while I'm teaching). I just hate drinking water with food, unless said food is dessert or fruit. If I drink water with my chicken, for example, I feel like I'm drinking chicken. Weird, I know...but it's my whole reason for consuming diet soda. Seriously. And please don't suggest drinking fruit juice with my food -- it just doesn't "go." Hey, at least I switched from regular coke, which helped me lose 115 pounds. Even with the caffeine, I'd say I'm a smidge healthier after dropping all that.

AMEN!

I've heard this as well. Something to do with the artificial carbonation eating away at your bones. Natural carbonation (beer) apparently does not have this effect, which is why it's so good for you.

Or the phosphoric acid.

I concur.