Will Ditching the Soda Help Shed Those Extra Pounds?

By Cari Zimmerman

Do you drink soda regularly?  What is inside each of those cans may shock you. 

I’m sure everyone has heard that kicking the caffeine addiction can aid in weight loss.  Not only is soda high in sugar, calories, and empty of nutrients, it is also not a thirst quencher, according to Afton Nelson.  Caffeine is a natural diuretic so while you may grab a soda satisfy that thirst, it is acting to increase your urinary output, causing your body to become dehydrated, and resulting in a person actually being thirstier. 

Susan Burke, writing for eDiets,  says that along with dehydration, soda actually is responsible for lowering the nutrition in our diets.  Nowadays, sodas, sugary sports drinks, and other sweetened drinks are replacing healthy drinks such as milk, juice, or water.  Since these sweetened drinks are nothing but sugar water they do nothing to curb our appetites or satisfy our thirst. So, in addition to downing an entire can of coke (which with ten teaspoons of sugar holds the entire daily recommended amount in one can)in one sitting, we also turn to another snack or drink to make our growling tummies happy, which results in twice the calories, adds Burke.    

“I had never imaged I would achieve such great results,” Lori Finken, 34, Kansas City, Missouri gasps.  “I had always had this extra weight on my thighs and stomach.  I don’t really have time for exercise or money for a gym membership.  I needed something I could do at home.  I decided to stop drinking pop and my husband decided to kick the habit with me.  It was great.  We saved money that we would normally have spent on soda, and we both lost about 12 pounds.” 

Many people find themselves robotically reaching for a can of Pepsi in the middle of the afternoon for a quick pick-me-up, or just out of habit.  When your brain is telling you that you need, need, need that soda, Susan Rufle suggests in “10 reasons to quit the soda habit” that you try and remember that:

• Caffeine and sugar will only make you thirstier!
• Soda does not satisfy hunger, which results in an additional snack, additional calories, and additional inches around the waist. 
• High fructose corn sugars (those found in sodas) are processed through the liver and are most easily converted to FAT.
• Phosphorus in soda inhibits the absorption of calcium which contributes to bone loss.
• Sugar is bad for your teeth and can cause cavities!

So if you find yourself able to give up soda but are still craving a little something sweet to tide yourself over during the day, don’t fret.  There are many delicious and satisfying alternatives to try, such as:

• Water (try adding a slice of your favorite fruit for an extra burst of flavor)
• Tea (try adding a splash of 100% fruit juice for an added zing)
• 100% juice (an 8 ounce serving is ideal, but if you don’t find that to be enough try adding 8 ounces of water to the juice:  the flavor will still be strong and you can have twice as much with the same calories!)
• Milk
• Fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, and tomatoes are also very juicy and can help satisfy thirst and hunger with very few calories and an extra dose of nutrients.

So as to whether ditching soda alone can help ditch those extra pounds:  it certainly can’t hurt.  Team up with a friend, a significant other, or your co-workers and try the soda free lifestyle together.  You’ll be surprised at the results.     

For more information go to:

Burke, Susan.  (2007, July 26).  Soda:  the good, the bad, & the ugly. Retrieved July 26, 2007, from http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/cmi_1686968/cid_1

Nelson, Afton.  (2007, March 1).  Ten reasons to quit drinking soda pop. Retrieved July 26, 2007, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/158674/ten_reasons_to_quit_drinking_soda_pop.html