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12 Secrets About Soda You Didn't Know

Over 25 percent of Americans are obese and close to 70 percent of them are overweight. One of the main causes is the consumption of sugary drinks like soda.

Everyone knows and is aware that soda is unhealthy. So why do so many people continue to consume this sugary beverage? Because of its addictive, satisfying sweet and bubbly taste due to artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose.

But there is a lot more damage that soda can cause which poses higher risks than just gaining weight. Furthermore, if you are an individual that consumes soda regularly, you may be inviting diseases which can lead to an early death.

Many people think by substituting a regular soda for a diet version, they can avoid the health concerns of consuming this sugary beverage. However, this is a false assumption because diet soda can do the same amount and sometimes even more damage.

Here are a few secrets that you may not have known about soda:

1. Diet Sodas Are Not What You Think They Are

Many people assume that by drinking diet soda, it is a healthier choice than consuming regular soda; however, this assumption is false. Though there are fewer calories being consumed with diet soda, the side effects can be worse than regular soda.

This is because studies have shown how diet soda can raise the risk of diabetes in a higher proportion compared to regular soda. One study showed that women double their risk of developing type 2 diabetes with diet soda, and are twice more likely to gain weight than with regular soda.

Therefore, it is important to think twice before you open up a diet soda beverage. This is because diet drinks increase cravings, weight gain, and risks of other diseases in addition to its addictive properties. As a result, there is no way of avoiding the health concerns with any kind of sugary drink.

2. Soda Causes Weight Gain and Obesity

Soda has a high concentration of sugar which yields a high chance of gaining weight and excess fat if consumed. The fat that is developed from soda is visceral fat, which gathers around organs and the stomach which not only increases weight, but can cause nerve damage to your organs.

Sodas that have artificial sugars are worse because they trigger insulin, which cause your body to store fat, which leads to weight gain. In addition, artificial sugars are even more addicting compared to regular sugars which will make it hard to stop drinking those sugary drinks and stopping your bad habit.

3. Soda is Linked with The Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Drinking regular soda or even diet soda can increase your risk up to 40 percent of metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes. Metabolic syndrome puts people in high risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

In addition, if you develop type 2 diabetes there are many concerns and serious medical conditions that are linked to this disease. For instance, it can cause heart disease, blood vessel disease, nerve, kidney, eye, and foot damage. Also, it can result in hearing problems, Alzheimer's, nerve damage and infections.

4. Say Good-Bye To a Nice Smile

Soda contains an acid called phosphoric acid and is also present in diet sodas as well. This can cause tooth decay, cavities, discoloring and gum disease. There have also been numerous studies that have showed the soda the same effect with your teeth and mouth as that seen in cocaine users, methamphetamine users, and other drug users. Therefore, if you want to maintain a beautiful smile make sure you cut out soda out of your diet.

5. Soda is Linked to and Increases Symptoms of Depression

The consumption of soda has been linked to depression and there are indications that it can increase the symptoms of depression for those who already struggle with this health issue. As studies have shown, people who drink 4 cups of soda per a day are 30% more likely to develop or worsen depression symptoms.

6. Soda Does Not Make You Feel Full

Soda when consumed does not make you feel full because it contains a high concentration of fructose, which does not make you full or satisfied and causes you to eat more because the body doesn't realize that it has consumed a lot of calories.

This is a major reason why so many people gain weight when drinking soda. People end up eating more because they are still hungry; this means a larger intake of calories which you do not need.

7. Soda is Addicting For So Many People

Soda contains large amounts of sugar which is why this beverage can be extremely addictive. This is because sugar activates and discharges a neurotransmitter hormone called dopamine to the brain which gives many people the feeling of pleasure.

Naturally the human brain looks for the release of dopamine as it is desirable; thereby creating an addiction and/or dependence which is known as a food addiction. Soda addiction and drug addiction have many striking similarities.

8. Soda Drinkers Have a High Chance of Developing Cancer

There have been research studies which have shown how sugary drinks like soda, if consumed frequently, can increase the risk of developing cancer. This is because it contains a substance called methylimidazole which creates its brown/caramel color.

9. Soda Can Speed Up The Aging Process

In North America, a lot of people try to use products and even go under the knife to avoid the aging process. However, did you know drinking sugary drinks can speed up the aging process, by increasing the development of wrinkles and loose skin?

This is because the ingredients of phosphoric acid can speed up the body's cell age. Therefore, by cutting out sugary drinks like soda, you can look younger and you will also save a lot of money because you would not need to purchase anti-aging creams and cosmetic surgery.

10. Soda Can Hurt and Damage Your Heart

One of the most important organs in our body that keeps us alive is our heart which is why we should be doing everything we can to make sure our heart is in optimal condition.

Did you know that soda can put you at risk of a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, cardiac arrest and/or vascular death? This is because of the high concentration of sugar as one can of soda contain approximately 8.75 teaspoons of sugar, which is almost double of the recommended intake.

11. Soda is Causing Pollution On Earth

Not only is our body unable to break down the artificial sweeteners found in soda; the environment is unable to break down the sugars as well. Therefore, our water is unable to break down the sugars which cause water pollution.

It has been detected that artificial sugars have produced levels of acesulfame K, saccharin, and sucralose which are found in soda. As a result, the consumption of soda is also affecting organisms and animals in a negative and unhealthy way as well.

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