Should You Really Quit Drinking Soda?
It’s 11:00 AM … you are done with your coffee. It isn’t lunch time, but you you are ready for something. So, you head on over to the fridge and crack open a cold soda. Sound familiar?! Now its 3:00 and you are TIRED! You need a little caffeine boost, so you crack open another soda to get you through your day. Girl, I was right there with you! This was me … I was literally addicted to soda … my weapon of choice? Regular Coke. Ahh … the hit that cold Coke would provide was just the relief I craved. I equate it to lighting up a cigarette … your body craves it until you give it another hit. Are you raising your hand right now saying, “Wow … she is talking about me!”? If this is you, let’s chat for a bit about sodas.
I know that you all know that drinking sodas is not healthy. But, you just don’t know how to quit or even if its REALLLY that important to do so right? That was me too! I knew it wasn’t the best choice, but I justified my daily consumption. So, let’s talk about why you are craving sodas. When you eat food, the brain releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine which your brain interprets as pleasure. To get more pleasure, your brain continues to seek actions that stimulate dopamine release, including eating. The problem with soda and other high sugar foods is that they provide a HUGE dopamine release that is much greater than what happens when you eat whole foods, which results in bigger, more intense cravings. This creates a cycle where your brain craves more and more soda to get that same pleasure response. Makes sense right?
There are several reasons why you should stop drinking soda …
Diet sodas are sweetened with an artificial sweetener, such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, neotame, or acesulfame-K . Some of these sweeteners have been linked to a variety of health issues. Be sure to read more on that here.
Regular sodas promote weight gain. Soda is high in calories and doesn’t curb hunger, making it easy to consume a high number of calories.
Soda can actually DECREASE your energy levels. Soda is high in sugar, which can quickly spike your blood sugar levels, followed by a sharp drop, commonly called a crash.
Soda has been linked back to many chronic diseases. Studies have consistently shown that people who drink soda more frequently have a high risk of chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer
Ok … so now you know why you crave sodas and why you should NOT be drinking them. So what are you supposed to do now? You knew this was coming! So, here are my top tips for helping to squelch your soda cravings, and don’t worry it doesn’t involve going cold turkey!
Drink more water … I know, simple right? But, when you are craving that 11:00 AM soda, you are actually thirsty and the soda is a habit. Start by ensuring you are hydrated with water at the beginning of your morning! Remember we are all actually dehydrated when we wake up after 7-8 hours of sleep!
Wean yourself off slowly. Try to cut each can or glass of soda consumption in half, or thirds, whatever works for you at the start.
Mix it with water. If you have ever let your iced soda sit out for a while the ice melted and watered it down. You still drank it right?!? Cut your sodas with a bit of water or club soda so it’s still bubbly! The water is also hydrating! This also cuts back on the sweetness which is one of the things that most people get really used to. When you are eating less sugar or artificial sweeteners, you won’t crave them as much or as fiercely.
Try some Zevia. If you still aren’t convinced that you can wean yourself off, or aren’t sure you are ready please try this soda. I have converted many many people to this soda alternative … trust me, you’ll love it!
So, listen … you CAN do this, and quite frankly I know that you will feel better when you do. I gave up my heavy soda habit by following the above steps SLOWLY and just re-training my bad habits! Share this with a friend and start together today! Your mind and body will both thank you!