Rethinking Our Drink - Alternatives to Soda and Other Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

The consumption of soda can lead to type-2 diabetes, obesity, dental decay and caffeine dependency. 9 teaspoons of sugar are found in a regular 12-ounce soda, which accounts for soda making up 21% of sugar in the American diet. To avoid the sugar and calories, many have switched to diet soda with the erroneous belief that it is a healthier option.

According to a study conducted by the Framingham Heart Study, people who drank diet sodas were at 41% higher risk for metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical concerns that increase the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is debatable whether this is the result of diet soda or because diet-soda drinkers believe that a zero-calorie drink allows them to eat more unhealthy foods.

However another study conducted on rats at Purdue University suggested that the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas make the body expect more glucose sugars, in turn triggering cravings to atone for the discrepancy.

To lose weight, get in the habit of drinking healthier beverages. The average person requires eight (eight-ounce) glasses of water to stay hydrated, help expel waste via the kidneys and moisten the respiratory system. Soup, which is enjoyed by the Chinese with their meals, is a beverage that counts towards the eight glasses of water. For healthy beverages with more flavor, try green tea, unsweetened juice and low-sodium tomato juice.