Who doesn’t love an ice cold soda on a hot day? 

Whether it’s got sugar, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, we love our soft drinks.  It’s the beverage of choice for Americans with more than 15 billion gallons consumed per year.  There has been a lot of data released recently on just how bad they are for us.  Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity has released the results of a study showing clearly that soft drinks are associated with increased caloric intake, higher body weight, a decrease in calcium and other nutrients, and increased risk of Type II diabetes.

We’re not exactly shocked to learn that soda isn’t good for us.  Most women I know who are trying to make healthy choices have at least switched to the so-called diet sodas.  I have to admit to enjoying a diet ginger ale once in a while.  But I want to encourage all of us to look at how much diet soda we’re consuming – especially during this scorching hot weather. 

Let’s look at some of the facts about diet soda.  First of all, even though it is calorie free it’s got no nutritional content; Fake coloring, fake sweetener and water.  The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found that the more diet sodas a person drinks, the more weight they were likely to gain.  Why does this happen?  One theory is that when we drink low calorie beverages we feel entitled to eat more food.  Other research is looking at the way artificial sweeteners affect our blood sugar.  Some scientists believe that drinking diet soda flavored with artificial sweeteners more than likely increases cravings for sugar flavored sweets and other carbs.

I would suggest considering herbal, caffeine free iced tea – without sweetener of any kind – with a slice of orange or lime to give it a really thirst quenching taste.  Tea also has anti-oxidants to boost the immune system.  Try a fruit smoothie by mixing strawberries or any other tasty summer fruit with ice cubes in a blender.  You’ll get an amazing frozen concoction that does have calories but also many nutrients your body needs.  So by all means stay hydrated during this steamy weather but drink lots of water and try to keep the diet soda consumption to a minimum.

Debra

Related topics:  Healthy Eating, Diet Soda, Nutrition, Body Image, Plus Size, Women’s Health, Women’s Self Esteem, Plus Size Fitness, Starting a Fitness Program, Overweight Exercise, Larger Women Working Out, Active at Any Size