Don't Drink that Soda!

I have to admit, there are times when I absolutely crave a Diet Coke's effervescent sweetness. However, that craving has been tempered more and more lately by bad news about drinking soda. We already know the toll that soda can have on those who are overweight, and we've seen people lose dramatic weight by simply dropping soda from their diet.


However, there is more we should all be aware of. I read this article the other day. Here's some of what I learned:

• Apparently the phosphoric acid in soda can lead to more rapid aging. A 2010 study found that the excessive phosphate levels found in sodas caused lab rats to die a full five weeks earlier than the rats whose diets had more normal phosphate levels. Too much phosphoric acid can challenge the heart and kidneys, lead to osteoporosis, and muscle loss.
• Did you ever wonder why colas are brown? It's nothing natural, that's for sure! Two contaminants in the coloring, 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, have been found to cause cancer in animals. Just 16 micrograms per person per day of 4-methylimidazole is enough to pose a cancer threat, and most popular brown colas, both diet and regular, contain 200 micrograms per 20-ounce bottle.
• Then there is Mountain Dew, the bad boy of all sodas. Its excessive sugar is well-known by dentists to cause cavities. And how about this? The BVO (bromated vegetable oil)  which is added to keep the flavoring from separating from the drink, is also used as a flame retardant in plastics! So while you might get some cavities from drinking the stuff, well, maybe you'll be able to take up firewalking.  Unfortunately, this chemical has also been known to cause memory loss  and nerve disorders. 

So what to drink instead? For starters, there is water. I'm one of those people, however, that just can't get excited about water. So if I want caffeine (which is half the reason I like my Coke), I drink coffee or tea, hot or cold. Then, if it's something sparkly and sweet that I want, I pour a Pellegrino or other sparkling water, and splash in some pomegranate or other juice.