Are Those Daily Sodas Killing You? Tips from the Doctors of Family First

Everybody enjoys a good soda occasionally, right? I remember being a kid growing up and seeing all the Coca-Cola advertisements with the polar bears, the collectable glasses, and coolers full of every color and flavor you could ever wish for. But are these drinks that are loved by Americans and the whole world over killing us? We know they aren’t healthy, but killing us? Really? You may think I’m being unreasonable or extreme but let me break this down a little bit.

By the Numbers

There was a study that was done in 2019 in the EU that looked at the connections between drinking soft drinks with both natural and artificial sweetening. This study looked at the health of over 450,000 people, which is a respectable participant number. One of the first findings that stood out to me, was the fact that people who consume more than 1 glass (8oz) of soda per day, were 17% more likely to suffer from a life ending event due to the health issues associated with sodas. Let’s take a closer look at those numbers again for people that drink at least 8oz per day.

8OZ/DAY OF NATURAL SWEETENER:

• Overall chance of death increased by 8%
• Cardiovasular death increased by 52%

8OZ/DAY OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER:

• Overall chance of death increased by 26%
• Digestive death increased by 59%

8OZ/DAY OF EITHER OR BOTH:

• Colon death increased by 25%
• Parkinsons death increased by 59%

What can I do?

DRINK MORE WATER:

Drinking more water will quench your thirst and make you less likely to reach for a soda when you get thirsty. Staying hydrated is always a good thing.

TRY SOME OTHER DRINKS:

For some people, they are missing the fizz and carbonation of the soft drinks and sodas. Sparkling waters are good alternatives to help manage those cravings. If its caffeine you are craving, then try to reach for some green tea.

MANAGE THE STRESS:

Quitting these habits and addictions can be stressful. There might be times when you have huge cravings for your favorite sweetened soft drink or have the irritability of someone who didn’t have their daily cup of coffee. We can manage these issues with short walks, meditation/mindfulness, chewing gum, or even taking a shower. A change in your environment may be all it takes to curb that craving or irritability.

ONE STEP AT A TIME:

Make small changes at first and write down a plan or some goals. We want you all to be as healthy as possible for the rest of your lives! It’s a journey of health and your first step can start today.