During the Spring Challenge, we asked you to forgo drinking soda during lunch. Lunch is the meal when most of us are tempted to grab a soda, whether that is because we are eating out or because we are looking for a mid day pick-me-up. However, before you reach for a soda at your next lunch, consider some of the negative effects it has on your health.
Soda is a concentrated source of calories and sugar. We can quickly guzzle down 150 calories in a matter of minutes, without even noticing it. Just one 12-ounce soda contains about 8 tsp. of sugar. The recommended daily limit of sugar for women is 6 tsp. and men is 9 tsp. Added sugar in the diet can lead to unwanted weight gain. Let’s look at the math: a 12 ounce can of soda contains about 150 calories. Over the course of a year, an extra 150 calories each day adds up to a weight gain of 15 pounds!
In addition, drinking soda can lead to other health problems. According to a Harvard study, tossing back just one soft drink per day, whether regular or artificially sweetened, can elevate your risk of type 2 diabetes by 15 percent. Also, the caffeine content in soda can lead to side effects such as irritability, restlessness, insomnia, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeats, just to name a few.
So instead of reaching for the soda in the mid afternoon, opt for a healthier option such as water, 100% fruit juice, or herbal tea.
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