Self reflection. After reading that soda is the #1 factor in weight gain I decided to go home and have some self reflection. I pulled out the recycle bin and started counting.
Now my husband does not drink soda so I know all these cans are mine. Furthermore, regrettably all the cans I found do not include soda consumed away from my home. I was unsure of the exact time frame of my soda consumption but I decided the cans I found in the recyclables reflect probably 45 days give or take 10 days. I also remember during this time period consuming 2 bottles of 2 liter pepsi (which was not factored into this).
Check out the two photos included -- first, the cans of consumption and second, the jar represents the overall grams of sugar I consumed and the cup represents that jar broken down into a daily intake.
So -- in 45 days check out the following.
39 cans of soda.
1 can of soda has 42 grams of sugar.
160 calories a can = 6720 calories = approx. 2 lbs (1 lb is 3500 calories)
Each can of soda is approximately 9 teaspoons of pure sugar.
39 cans is about 345 teaspoons of sugar (measured out in the jar).
Diabetes in a Can?
A 2,000 calorie diet recommends only consuming 44 grams of sugar per day (2 grams away from a can and that’s not including everything else we eat daily).
Cup Runneth Over?
Food is fuel and every fuel has it’s own digestion rate based on fiber and fructose content. Carbohydrate sugar is converted to fat for storage when calories are consumed in excess.
Consuming soda releases energy very quickly. If you have excess sugar when the glucose is processed by your liver the liver cannot handle it all and converts it into fatty acids which goes into your body and is stored: stomach, hips, butt, breasts, arteries and eventually heart, liver, and kidneys reducing raising blood pressure, decreasing metabolism, and weakening the immune system. This also produces extra insulin which can eventually lead to insulin resistance which means you’ve essentially broken that part of your body -- it begins to work against you.
Something Broke?
I decided to research different issues associated with too much sugar. The body is broken when we consume too much sugar. So below are 10 reasons to avoid soda.
Consuming one or more sugar sodas a day can increase a woman’s chances for diabetes by 80%
Oral bacteria in your teeth ferment the simple sugars dissolving tooth enamels.
High fructose and caffeine in soda can prevent you from sleeping when you need and make you fall asleep when you hit the low. Also, you will need to consume extra water.
Can prevent the ability of the body to digest and kill gonococcal bacteria for 7 hours.
One caffeinated drink a day can reduce a woman’s monthly ability to conceive by 50%.
Diet sodas actually stimulate your body to want to eat more food.
Sodium Benzoate can cause asthma, hives, and eczma.
Too much can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Obesity.
Addiction.
Ability to fix it?
Admittedly soda is addicting. I know others who feel the same way I do. So what makes some people get out? How do others get out of loving this sugary drink. Below are some of the best tips I found online:
Make the commitment and pour it down the sink. Don’t buy it again.
Limit yourself.
Replace, replace, replace. Be ready with an ‘alternative’ for when you would have wanted it before.
Tell friends and family you’re trying to not drink as much.
Avoid snacks that have sugar in the first 3 or 4 ingredients.
Plan snacks that have protein and help avoid sugar cravings.
Keep it up for two weeks at first and then see how far you can go.
Drink luke warm water.
Think of all the money you can save.
Do your research about the issues with soda.
So what am I gonna do? Well -- my high fetched goal is to limit soda to 1 a week (we’ll see if I can do that). Each day I go without soda I am going to remove 1 can from the soda wall..so I can reduce my soda deficit.
Wish me luck? Too bad you all won’t want to send me a dollar for every day I don’t consume soda. Regardless, by lessening my soda intake I know if I can follow through I could potentially save thousands in health bills.
Carbonated, flavored water is really helpful. It doesn't taste like pop but it helps remove the itch to drink something fizzy. LaCroix, Mendota Springs, Perrier, and Canada Dry are all good brands. LaCroix has the most flavors and is our personal favorite - I don't know which grocery stores in CO carry it, except Target.
ReplyDeleteThe ingredients should say: Carbonated water, flavoring. That's it. No sweetener of any kind. Canada Dry has sodium in it, too, but no sugar.
Tom and I cut out pop completely, except for special occasions (celebrations or eating out with friends, which is not often) and weekends. Usually we split a full size can or we'll each drink a mini-can, and only once a weekend-day.
No one can help you do this until it clicks in your head that you need to do this and will do this. If it's all head knowledge without indwelling motivation you won't get far. But it sounds like you've clicked. Good luck!