What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking Soda

Soda is an addiction — similar to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, it feels good when you consume it, but it can wreak. As more and more research investigates the ill effects of soda on the human body (and the environment), it may be time for you to give it up, or at least reduce the amount you intake on a daily or weekly basis.

The evidence speaks for itself: Your health will drastically improve once you begin replacing your daily Coke or Mountain Dew with water. Pretty much every organ will benefit from quitting soda, as explained below.

Heart

Studies have shown that sugary drinks increase the risk of developing chronic heart diseases. The more soda you drink, the higher the risks of having a heart attack. Sugary drinks also affect the blood pressure. If you cannot give up on drinking soda at once, try reducing to one soda per day.

Brain

Soda contains caffeine, which helps us focus, and the sugar gives us a temporary boost of energy. But on the long run, all that sugar and caffeine can have negative effects on the brain function and cognitive process. Long-term usage of soda leads to behavioral changes, memory problems, and impaired learning. 

Bladder

Sodas are diuretic; that is why you need to use the toilet more often than usual. But excessive soda consumption can lead to exacerbating bladder infection and urinary tract infections, due to the irritation of the bladder caused by frequent urination. Try to replace sodas with water or natural juices and you will improve bladder function and reduce the chances of infection.

Teeth

Besides the high amounts of sugar they contain, sodas are also highly acidic, causing the teeth enamel to erode. This is the beginning of several dental problems, and it might even lead to the complete loss of your teeth.

A study done on a woman who drank two liters of soda per day for five years showed that her severe tooth erosion could be compared to that of a crack or meth user. The citric acid in these beverages softens the enamel, making the teeth more vulnerable to breaking.

Bones

Stop drinking soda and you will improve your bones’ health and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. The long-term consumption of soda causes the bones to become fragile and break more easily than normal.

Because there are no laws or rules to stop us from drinking soda, we tend to believe that it can’t be as harmful as doctors say. Unfortunately, we keep drinking it, sometimes in unbelievable high quantities. Try, at least for a week, to reduce or completely cut off on drinking soda and see how your body will respond to this. Try to notice the differences in your overall health and make a list with pros and cons. Maybe this will help you and give you the motivation you need to stop drinking soda.

Weight Loss

One of the easiest ways to lose weight is to cut soda from your diet. If you’re a rabid drinker (drinking it several times a day without fail, day and night), cutting down to one can a day could be a good start, at least until you’re eventually comfortable with cutting it out to once a week or leaving it behind completely.

According to Malia Frey, a weight loss expert writing on About Health, dropping a daily large Coca-Cola from McDonald’s completely (if you drink about one per day) would result in reducing your annual calorie intake by over 200,000 calories — or about 60 pounds — in one year. Replace that soda with water and overcome obesity.