Why You Might Want To Give Up Soft Drinks

It’s one of the easiest beverages to drink and fun to give to your kids: soda pop. We know it’s not good for us. The sugar, the sodium, the carbonation; but it’s our vice. The one thing we can indulge in when we’re having a stressful day, not to mention at the neighborhood barbecue or during the baseball game. The one thing to give our kids that they will actually drink.
But is it really worth the risk? Here are four big reasons why you may want to replace soft drink consumption in your family. If number three doesn’t get you, number four alone may be reason enough to give up soda.
1. Cavities
The acid in soft drinks promotes bacteria creation on your tooth surface. This bacteria then feeds on the sugar and helps in breaking down and destroying your teeth. This is how cavities are formed. Since the sugars in soda are so refined, they are quickly harmful to your teeth, unlike more complex sugars in whole foods like vegetables and whole grain breads which do not readily break down in your mouth.
2. Staining of your teeth
Because soft drinks are laden with sugars that promote plaque, it offers food for mobs of bacteria that are inside your mouth. As time goes one, this layer may generate a discolored yellowing effect on your teeth that is unattractive and would need to be treated by your Lakeview or South Loop dentist.
3. Disease
Drinking soft drinks has been associated to an increase of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. This is because the sugars in soda actually trigger your sweet cravings and dull your sensitivity to the taste of sweets, which sparks a vicious cycle of consuming overly sweet drinks and foods.
4. Corrodes your teeth – Permanently
We’ve heard before that soft drinks can be as corrosive to our teeth as battery fluid within the first three minutes. However, researchers at the University of Adelaide have now also shown that permanent damage to tooth enamel occurs inside of just 30 seconds of drinking soda due to the high acidity in contact with your teeth.
Permanent Damage folks! We’re not talking about brushing your teeth and it fixes it, we’re talking damage that occurs right after drinking a soda. Erosion of your tooth enamel is much worse than decay and also promotes hypersensitivity.
Isn’t it time to kick this habit of drinking soda? But what are some ideas to drink instead?

Here are 5 ideas for that:

Source: Kapnick.com

• Natural Flavored Water. Add slices of your favorite fruits and veggies like watermelon, oranges, lemons, mint, cucumber or even chop up and freeze your fruit and then add them. Give instant color and flavor.

Source: healtheelife.com

• Green Tea. Go for the natural beverage. Green tea is known to reduce your risk of cancer. You can sweeten’ it with a few drops of honey if needed. Drink it chilled or hot.

Source: Iowagirleats.com

• Jeltzer – Juice + Seltzer. Mix 100% juice with seltzer for a healthy and tasty drink. Try cranberry juice which helps protect you from kidney stones and urinary tract infections. Grape juice has antioxidants that benefit your blood vessels and brain. Use three parts of seltzer with one part of juice to create the bubbly and light concoction.

Source: Citylifestylemag.com

• Vegetable juice. Drink your veggies for a low calorie quick refresher. It has much less sugar than natural fruit juices. You can buy some or make your own and add in a little fruit.

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• Soy or Almond Milk. They come in a variety of flavors like vanilla and almond and make a great alternative to milk, especially for the lactose intolerant. Pick a milk that has been fortified with calcium and vitamin D.