7 Reasons Not to Drink Soda Pop!

Honestly, I've never liked soda, even as a child. I stopped drinking soda when I was in the 8th grade when my science teacher told us that if a cockroach fell into a bottle of coke it would disintegrate. I still don't know if that is actually true but I am terrified of insects. Just the thought of that made me sick. If the coachroach story doesn't scare you like it did me, below are 7 more reasons not to drink soda pop:

1. It can cause weight gain. According to a study drinking one to two cans of soda a day increases a person’s risk of being overweight or obese by 32.8 percent. The researchers found that those who drank one to two cans of diet soda per day were at an even higher risk (54.5 percent) of being overweight or obese.
2. It puts you at risk for diabetes and heart disease. Another study found that people who drink soda every day, whether regular or diet, were 44 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndrome—a condition that greatly increases your risk for heart disease and diabetes.
3. It may cause digestion difficulties. Some experts believe the phosphoric acid that is in soda may disturb the acid-alkaline balance of the stomach. As a result, soda drinkers may develop digestional distress, acid reflux, stomach inflammation, and intestinal erosion.
4 It’s addictive. A 2000 study revealed that soft-drink manufacturers add caffeine to soda for one reason only: to get consumers hooked. Once you’re addicted, going cold turkey can create withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, depression, irritability, tremors, sleep deprivation, and headaches.
5. It does not contain any nutrients. A 20-ounce bottle of cola contains nearly 250 calories, but take a look at the label, and you’ll see that it has virtually no vitamins or minerals. In fact, the only things soda is packed with are sugar and caffeine—
6. It’s harmful to your teeth and bones. According to a recent Tufts University study, women who drank three 12-ounce colas a day had 5 percent less bone density than women who drink less than a serving a day. The phosphoric acid in cola prevents calcium from being absorbed by the body. Soda is also damaging for teeth:
7. It’s expensive. Compared to fruit juice or milk, soft drinks may seem cheap, but when you consider the lack of nutritional value, soda seems like a rip-off. The average 12-ounce can of soda costs about $1 from the vending machine, so if you drank two a day for a year, you’d spend a whopping $730 on pop every year.

I am sure there are several more reasons not to drink soda, but those are my top 7 (in addition to the coachroach story which I dare not to test)!