7 Benefits of Cutting Out Soda: Does It Help You Lose Weight?

1. Drinking Soda Can Make You Gain Weight

Regular soda is loaded with sugar and calories so this will cause weight gain. And diet soda, although it says zero calories, is overly sweet, which makes you crave sweet food and often consume more calories. Being health conscious myself, this is at the top of my reasons to cut out soda. If you are aiming for significant weight loss, then you should consider cutting out the daily six pack of soda you have been drinking! It is one of the most effective steps you can take for your physical health.

2. Soda Strips Your Tooth Enamel

Because of the high acid content, soda has been linked to stripping and wearing away tooth enamel. Want pearly white teeth? Then you may want to consider cutting out or at least drinking significantly less soda. Dark soda has also been linked to staining your teeth over time. And dark stained teeth is not a good look or healthy for anyone. You can read more about dental health guidelines at the American Dental Association. Get bright beautiful teeth and drink some water instead!

3. Drinking Soda Can Cause Cancer

Drinking regular soda has been linked to increasing your risk of certain health conditions, including pancreatic cancer. Researchers believe that the over consumption of sugar from drinking regular soda on a daily basis fuels cancer cell production. Whatever the underlying reason, this is a serious motivator to give up or at least cut down on your soda intake. The American Cancer Society often highlights the importance of a low-sugar diet for long-term health.

4. Diet Soda Drinkers Have a Higher Risk of a Stroke

Having the habit of drinking soda on a daily basis has been linked to increasing your risk of stroke. So you want to reconsider the next time you purchase the twelve pack of soda on sale at your local grocer. Drinking the occasional soda is much different and has less adverse effects than making this part of your daily routine.

If you need some alternatives to soda, here is a quick list of great options:

5. Soda Causes Bloating

The carbonation in soda causes bloating in your body, and can yield a 3-5 pound weight gain due to this water retention. Want to lose that initial water weight? Just cut out the soda! You will likely notice a flatter stomach and less discomfort within just a few days of making the switch.

6. Drinking Soda Does Not Quench Your Thirst

Have you ever noticed after you drink soda you are still thirsty? That is because soda does not quench your thirst as water does. Often hunger is confused with thirst, so for dieters you really should be drinking water to quench your thirst, so you will be satisfied and stick with eating a healthy meal plan. This ties back into the common question: does cutting out soda help lose weight? Yes, because proper hydration prevents overeating.

7. Soda is Bad for Your Bones

The same chemicals in soda that are bad for your teeth can actually rob calcium from your bones. This can put you at risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become fragile and lose density. If you do not have enough calcium in your diet or you body is robbed of this essential mineral, your bones will become more fragile over time. If you are not planning on cutting out soda entirely, doctors recommend that you should actively increase your calcium intake to help offset the damage.

Now that you have read the numerous adverse affects drinking soda can have on your health and waistline it is up to you to make a choice. Will you give up soda completely, or use this as the occasional treat when you go out? Understanding what cutting soda does to your body is the first step toward a healthier lifestyle.