TOTW Tuesday: Say Goodbye to Soda Once and For All

by Ashley on December 3, 2013

Hi there! Happy Tuesday! How are you today? All is well over here. After a sick start to last week and lots of rest this weekend, I am having a great week over here. I’ve been starting each day with a positive thought and it has really left me feeling great each day. Yesterday, I was even able to start and finish 95% of my Christmas shopping online – and scored free shipping on EVERYTHING! I absolutely love Cyber Monday!

Anyway, on to today’s fun!

This week’s Tip of the Week Tuesday might be one that you dread to hear, but one that really means a lot to me.

Soda TOTW

Did you know that approximately 285,000,000 (that’s a lot of zeros) people worldwide are affected by Type 2 Diabetes – a disease that need not exist. (Journal of Human Genetic).

Here’s a little overview on Type 2 Diabetes:  Type 2 Diabetes is a disease in which your body is resistant to the insulin that it makes. To simplify things, insulin is a hormone that acts as a key and unlocks your cells allowing them to absorb the food that you eat/drink (glucose). Without insulin your cells will starve and die. Unlike Type 1 Diabetes (which your body doesn’t make insulin), with Type 2 Diabetes, at first your body makes enough insulin but your cells just resist it and then overtime your body just stops producing enough insulin to keep your blood sugar up.

Both Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes: According to the Mayo Clinic, both excess body weight and inactivity can both be possible causes of Type 2 Diabetes.

But check out this statistic: According to new research published in the Journal of Diabetologia, you increase your likelihood of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 22% is you drink just ONE 12-ounce can of sugary soda per day. 

That’s too large of a statistic to play with.

Why do I think that is? One 12-ounce can of soda contains approximately 140-165 calories, 35-40 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of protein and 0 grams of fiber; that’s approximately 9 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup! A can of soda offers zero nutritional value for quite a bit of sugar and calories – in other words it’s entirely nutritionally deficient.

I have seen and talked to several people who have lost dozens of pounds by changing nothing in their diet except avoiding soda. That’s right. They continued eating the same diet but stopped drinking soda and opted for calorie-free beverages like water instead. Back in 2007, on New Years Eve, Dustin and I pledged to give up soda cold turkey and haven’t looked back since. It was one of the best decisions that I have ever made, seriously. Giving up soda had a snowball effect for me, leading from one healthy decision to the next and left me feeling healthier, lighter and better about myself overall.

For this week’s Tip of the Week Tuesday, I want you to do the same. When you’re ready, let go of disease-causing, health-robbing soda once and for all (forget the diet stuff too, which is filled with artificial sweeteners and chemicals that only leave your body craving more sugar). Opt for water, flavored sparkling water, soda water, tea, coffee, etc. instead. This is one of the greatest things that you could do for your body and overall health!

Lacroix

{Photo Source}

Is that a challenge you would be able to accept? Do you drink soda? Have you ever tried to give it up?

Have a great day!

Good health!

Name

 

Fifi December 3, 2013 at 4:20 pm

Would you consider kombucha a good alternative? That’s my favorite 🙂

Ashley December 3, 2013 at 8:58 pm

Yes! Kombucha is a great alternative!! One of my favorites too!

Heather December 4, 2013 at 11:40 am

I give up soda periodically usually for months at a time, but then I always find myself sucked right back in one day after I say “I haven’t had one in a while so I’ll just have this one”…so frustrating!

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