Skip to main content

Does Soda Get You Fat?

The obesity epidemic is a major health problem. In fact, two-thirds of American adults and one-third of American children are currently overweight or obese and the numbers seem to be rising, according to Roni Caryn Rabin in "The New York Times. The increasing consumption of soda may be a significant contributor to the epidemic of obesity and excessive weight gain, according to an article published in the “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” in August 2006. Half of the people in the United States consume sugary drinks every day, notes the Harvard School of Public Health.


Count the Calories

When you break it down, all soda is made up of only sugar and calories. It contains no nutrients and offers no nutritional benefits. A single can of soda contains 155 calories and 39.5 grams of sugar. If you drank just one 12-ounce can of soda every day without changing any of your other eating habits, you could gain 10 to 15 pounds in a year, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

The Science

The University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital notes that the human body is not made to drink calories. The hunger and satiety responses are controlled by a hormone called ghrelin. When the amount of ghrelin in your body increases, you feel hungry. As you eat, the levels of ghrelin drop and you begin to feel full. This response only works with food and not liquids. You can drink as many calories as you want, but they will never make you feel full. As a result, you end up going over your calorie recommendations, because you still eat the same amount of food that you normally would.

It Runs in the Family

Some people are predisposed to obesity and excess adipose -- or fat -- tissue. Genetics also play a role in where fat is stored in your body and how efficiently your body burns calories. According to a study published in “The New England Journal of Medicine” in October 2012, your genetic background may increase your susceptibility to gaining weight from drinking sugar-sweetened beverages. If obesity runs in your family, especially if both your parents are obese, be extra careful about drinking soda.

Swap the Soda

Because soda offers no nutritional benefit, there is really no need for it in your diet. Sure, it may taste sweet, but the sugar-laden beverage takes a toll on your health. In addition to setting you up for weight gain, drinking soda regularly also increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and your susceptibility to cavities. Instead of reaching for a can of soda, grab a bottle of water. Flavor your water with a squeeze of fresh orange or lemon juice or a sprig of mint. If you’re looking for carbonation, reach for a can of sodium-free, unsweetened seltzer water. Herbal teas are another option.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Lose Arm Fat in a Week

Fat has no conscience when it comes to the body. When it accumulates on the arms, shirts can fit improperly and regular activities can become more difficult because the fat can weigh the arm down. Losing this fat is never an easy thing to do, especially in a week. But that doesn't mean it's impossible. You just have to be willing to take it to the extreme. With that being said, the way to pull this off is by following a series of steps that involve eating adjustments, lifestyle changes and performing some key exercises that have an emphasis on the arms.    
Post a Comment
Read more

9 Healthy Reasons to Indulge Your Coffee Cravings

There's no need to feel guilty about your morning cup o’ joe. On the contrary: People who drink four or more cups of coffee a day have up to a 20 percent lower risk of melanoma than those who sip the dark stuff less often, according to a 2015 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. But this study is hardly the first one touting good news for java junkies. "Coffee is incredibly rich in antioxidants, which are responsible for many of its health benefits," says Joy Bauer, RD, nutrition and health expert for Everyday Health and The Today Show. And studies show that its caffeine content may also play a protective role in some health conditions.
Post a Comment
Read more

10 Effective Ways to Stop a Panic Attack

10 Effective Ways to Stop a Panic Attack “Panic is a sudden desertion of us, and a going over to the enemy of our imagination,” said the 19th century writer Christian Nestell Bovee. As everyone who has ever experienced a panic attack knows, there is nothing imaginary about the way you feel. I’ve tried to convince my husband on countless occasions, in the middle of an attack, that I was dying. Many people I know have driven to the emergency room convinced they were having a heart attack.
Post a Comment
Read more