New Guilty Pleasure

As I am getting ready for work, I try to make a point of eating breakfast. I NEVER did this in the past. I would grab a cup of coffee and rush out the door. But somewhere, and I can't remember where, I read that if you eat breakfast, your metabolism is 'kicked off' properly. Though I am not sure if that is a fact, I do know that my mental clarity and mood is much better if I eat something decent.

As I was preparing my egg whites with one slice of swiss cheese, I went to reach for the coffee. But I was not craving the coffee. I was craving the Diet Pepsi in the frig.

I cut out soda a while back. Typically I will only get one when I go out to eat with friends. I do know for a fact that the phosphoric acid in sodas will deplete your calcium and eat little holes in your bones. Not good. Is it the hot weather down here that is making me crave something crisp and light? Is it the fact that Weight Watchers has diet soda as zero points? Whatever it is, I need to kick that craving in the butt.

Once again, I turned to a great link I found on Everyday Health. It is about kicking the soda habit. I think it is pretty helpful. Check it out:



If you are curious about what soda actually does to your body, I found this great article on Livestrong.com. It listed the following issues it can cause:

- Obesity -

Regular soda consumption has been linked with increased risk of overweight and obesity, which are, in turn, associated with higher risk of a heart disease, diabetes and many other serious health issues.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449074-health-dangers-of-drinking-soda/#ixzz1zYpouCG8

- Cardiovascular Health -

Drinking diet soda regularly may affect cardiovascular health. According to a February 2011 news release from the American Heart Association, research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference found that people who drink diet soda every day have a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events than those who reported no soda consumption.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449074-health-dangers-of-drinking-soda/#ixzz1zYpyxySB

- Metabolic Syndrome -

Regular soda drinkers have been shown to be at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a group of symptoms that indicate a heightened risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a person must display at least three of the following symptoms; excess fat in the abdominal area, high triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and high fasting blood sugar

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449074-health-dangers-of-drinking-soda/#ixzz1zYqBSWkH

Kidney Problems -

Diet soda has been associated with kidney problems, according to an August 2010 study published in the "Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology." Study authors concluded that women who drank more than two servings a day of artificially sweetened soda per day saw a decrease in kidney function over 20 years that was three times the rate of decline found in women who did not drink diet soda.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449074-health-dangers-of-drinking-soda/#ixzz1zYqIf3Mi

Other Health Problems -

Other health risks associated with regular consumption of soda include dental problems and increased osteoporosis risk. Soda contains acidic ingredients that can erode tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. Frequent soda drinkers often consume fewer nutrient-rich beverages in the daily diet, such as milk and juice, replacing them with soft drinks, decreasing calcium intake and increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449074-health-dangers-of-drinking-soda/#ixzz1zYqSu6G3

I hope that gives you some motivation to cut the soda habit. Still - it's a guilty pleasure for now. Cold turkey?