I do a lot of reading about health and nutrition since I decided a year ago to change my lifestyle. I had heard before that if the average person drinks just one can of soda a day they will gain 5 lbs in a year.

The reason behind this, according to the researchers, is because of all the sugar in the soda. I am also going to add some more thoughts on the subject as to why drinking soda should be an occasional treat as opposed to a regular part of your diet. When the researchers make their claim of 5 lbs gained over the course of a year they talk about the “average” person. By average person they are most likely referring to someone who is not very active. They eat a few meals at their favorite fast food establishment. So, it is easy to see why one can of soda could add 5 lbs of fat to a person’s body over a year.

I have not actually done the research on this issue, but it does make sense to me so I believe it is true. But, I also suggest to you that drinking soda just doesn’t make any sense for other reasons. Have you ever poured a can of Coke, or other dark colored soda, on pavement before? If you have, did you go back the next day, the next week, or next month to see if the stain was still there? In most cases, it is. Now, if a simple can of soda can stain a section of pavement, which is designed to stand up to cars driving on it, sun beating on it, or other weather elements than how good can it possibly be for your body?

In addition to the sugar in the soda, there are other chemicals that add toxins to your body. By adding toxins you are making it more difficult for your cells to work as they are designed, making it more difficult to lose weight. I have seen people, who just stopped drinking soda and nothing else, lose weight. What people do not realize is that soda, and many other kinds of foods, can become addicting. Soda does not serve any other purpose to us, other than a sugary treat. It doesn’t satisfy our thirst, it actually makes us more thirsty. When you are more thirsty you go back and grab another soda. If you are not yet ready to commit to an exercise program, a gym membership (and actually going to the gym), or eating healthier just try eliminating soda for now. See what happens. If you stop soda for just 30 days when you finally do drink it again I would bet you will find the soda too sweet. It won’t have the same effect it does now.

In summary, the can of soda just doesn’t make sense to add to your diet if you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle. I haven’t had any soda in over a year. I drink mostly water with an occasional glass of orange or apple juice. There is still a lot of sugar in those drinks as well but at least it is natural sugar as opposed to man-made high fructose corn syrup.

Author Bio: Scott Bianchi operates an informational site, http://www.mkcfitness.com, designed to help people lose weight and become healhtier. There is so much information available that people can become overwhelmed and confused as the the best way to achieve their goals. This site will help to avoid that confusion.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: weight loss, diet, exercise, P90X,