Seven Reasons Why You Should Not Drink Regular Soft Drinks

Don’t drink sugar-sweetened soft drinks or pop.  Don’t have them in your home.  Soft drinks are called “liquid candy” for good reason.  They’re loaded with sugar – one can (12oz/355 mL) contains about 10 teaspoons.  They also provide no nutritional value and often take the place of healthier options.  Compared to 30 years ago, our consumption has tripled.  Some researchers believe they’re so detrimental to health they should carry warning labels similar to those seen on cigarette packages.  Drinking just 1 to 2 servings daily can increase your risk of disease.  Regular soft drink consumers may be more likely to suffer from:

1.  Obesity – no other food or drink has a stronger link to obesity.

2.  Type 2 diabetes.

3.  Gestational diabetes – the type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.

4. Metabolic syndrome – a group of risk factors that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy blood fats and abdominal obesity.

5. Gout – an acute form of arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints.  It most commonly affects the big toe, but may also affect the heel, ankle, hand, wrist or elbow.

6. Fatty liver – fat accumulates in the liver causing inflammation and scarring.  It can progress to liver failure.

7. Pancreatic cancer – one of the deadliest cancers.

Lessons Learned:

• Sugar-sweetened soft drinks or pop are harmful to health and significantly increase your risk of obesity and disease.  Don’t drink them.