Kick Your Diet Soda Habit For Good
I remember the days when diet soda seemed like a heaven-sent product. The taste took a little getting used to, but once you were hooked, that bittersweet carbonated beverage was downright cravable. I knew it was probably wrong, but there were some days when I would have two or three. I worried more about the caffeine content, not about the other ingredients, which I just naively disregarded.
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started hearing all the negative side effects that diet soda was proving to have, and despite my love for the drink, I had to give it up. I almost immediately saw a difference in my physical and mental state, which reinforced that I had made the right decision. Below are a few of the positive side effects of kicking the diet soda habit. Hopefully they are reason enough to convince you to put down the can for good.
No More Headaches
Most people think that they will develop headaches during the withdrawal period of giving up diet soda, however, it is quite the opposite. The chemicals from the artificial sweetener aspartame in the soda can actually cause headaches by way of changing the brain chemistry. The aspartame can also cause insomnia and anxiety issues. Cutting this from your diet should allow your brain to become more balanced.
Enjoy Food More
Drinking diet soda with your meals can mask the flavor of the food you are eating. The overwhelming sweetness of the beverage ends up masking your taste buds, making it impossible to taste all the subtleties of the meal. By switching to water, you can enjoy food on a different level- one that isn’t doused in sweetener.
You Can Start To Finally Lose Weight
I know, it seems strange that diet soda would hinder weight loss, but it does. A study who followed soda-drinking adults found that they still gained belly fat despite drinking the diet beverage. Another study done earlier found that diet soda actually increases your chance of becoming obese. Not only that, but it can cause metabolic syndrome, a disease that can cause heart disease and diabetes.
You Will Become Stronger
A 2014 study discovered that there is something about diet soda that increases the chances of acquiring a hip fracture in postmenopausal women. It turns out that women who drink the diet drink had lower bone mineral density in their hips, which increases the fracture risk. These studies strongly suggest that cutting the diet soda from your life may be one of the best ways to improve your bone strength.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Tony Webster