Usually when you eat out the waiter pours you a glass of water and then looks at you and asks “May I get you something to drink?” Is it that the water he just gave you isn’t sufficient and just maybe you should consider adding a sugary beverage to your meal. The interesting part is that in most cases we go ahead and place an order for a glass of soda, an alcoholic beverage or fruit drink. The fact of the matter is that all these juices and sodas are no match compared to a refreshing and satisfying glass of pure water. In taking simple steps to a healthier life we need to look at our relationship to soda and juice. If you are drinking sugary beverages everyday this habit needs to be broken. All the added sugar and chemicals are doing damage to our health and well being.
Some of the harmful effects include excess calories leading to weight gain and extra fat storage. It takes 3500 calories to add an extra pound of fat. So if you drink 2 cups of juice everyday giving you an extra 300 calories each day it will only take you about 12 days to gain an extra pound (3500/300). By the end of the year you would have gained 30 pounds!
These drinks cause uneven blood sugar levels. There is no fiber in them so our sugar level rises fast and falls just as quickly. When the sugar level bottoms out we feel tired and listless. With all that juice and soda our kids at first get bouncy then they crash and get whinny and cranky. Sodas also increase the acid levels in the stomach which persists even after the beverage is eliminated. With acid reflux being so common, sodas have their part to play.
Phosphorus in these fizzy drinks damages our bones. The phosphorous binds to calcium and is passed through the kidneys. Our bones are robbed of calcium and become thin which leads to a disease known as osteoporosis.
The weight gain, fatigue, crankiness, stomach acid and thin bones is really no fun to swallow. So the best thing is to replace all these sugary beverages with pure water. The first step is to NOT bring them into the house. Don’t buy those cases of soda, juice and beer for the family to drink at will. When there is no purple, red or orange liquid in the fridge the kids will go for water. Really no one will suffer permanent damage if there is no juice at home. Let’s change the juice guzzler culture in our home and all drink water like fish. It really is worth the initial awkwardness because the benefits will be noticeable almost immediately and for years to come.
As a mother I try to make health a family affair as we encourage each other to make better choices.