Which question is easier to answer: “What would you like to drink?” or “What would you like to eat?” Most people spend a lot more time worrying about what and how much to eat instead of what to drink; but unless it’s water, tea, milk or 100% fruit or vegetable juice without nasty artificial sweeteners, colors and flavors, weight gain could be coming from that drink (up to 15 lbs per year…read on!).
Researchers say adding the calories and sugar from a single soda with high fructose corn syrup per day to the typical U.S. diet could mean a weight gain of 15 pounds over one year. Can you imagine?! Avoiding just one soda and other beverages with artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup could mean people could be 15 pounds healthier!
Not just an innocent drink…even the diet soda
Well, it makes sense – American waist bands began to increase in the 1980s when soda beverage companies began to sweeten their beverages with high fructose corn syrup instead of real sugar. Recently, the beverage industry featured throwback editions made with real sugar – hey, maybe they should just bring those back permanently!
We know the high fructose corn syrup in soda contributes to weight gain, but what about diet soda? The artificial sweeteners in diet soda may be worse! Don’t be fooled by “zero” calories. Researchers have shown that adults who drink diet soda gained more weight than those who drank regular soda!
How exactly does the weight pile on?
- Excessive consumption – Remember those 2L cups? Since high fructose corn syrup is everywhere, and is the main sweetener in soda, Americans are consuming 22 teaspoons, or 355 calories of extra sugar per day!
- Hormone Imbalance – high fructose corn syrup disrupts with weight-regulating hormones that help us manage sugar and feel full.
- Liver Malfunction means fat storage – the liver cannot metabolize high fructose corn syrup as it metabolizes other carbohydrates so say hello to fat storage.
- Triggered sweetness – the sweetness without calories may encourage the body to seek out more calorific sweets like bread, dessert, etc. to compensate.
- False belief in “zero” – Many people consume more food believing they have room to spare.
So, it may be worth giving the question, “what would you like to drink?” a little more thought. Doing so may mean positive health results! Have you given up soda and seen positive effects?
“Hungry” to know more? Sites Earth Fare visited for this post are:
(1) http://tinyurl.com/9ufu2a – “The Truth About Diet Soda”
(2) http://tinyurl.com/yefab9d - “Soft Drinks Responsible for Weight Gain?”
(3) http://tinyurl.com/y8noqtq – University of Cincinnati study linking soft drinks and weight gain
What does Earth Fare say to the Corn Refiners Association and their “sweet surprise” campaign who argues that HFCS and sugar have the same amount of calories and that our bodies process both the same?
What ever happened to just drinking water when one is thirsty?
Jen B
February 9th, 2010 at 10:05 ampermalink
I improved my eating habits, but stil drank soda and gained weight. I am trying to give it up now. I am a mere 6 days soda sober! Fingers crossed!
Heather Robinson
February 11th, 2010 at 9:55 pmpermalink
I have given up soda, and the effects were amazing. In fact, giving up soda was the catalyst to my health journey. It meant I drank more water, which made me fuller, and therefore would snack less! Now if I drink soda (which is few and far between), I consider it dessert. In a very short period of time, I lost 30 lbs with that one simple act.
Heather: Stick with it! It took about a week for me to stop craving soda, and then it was significantly easier from that point on.
Jen B: And can I say, I hate, loath, despise those HFCS commercials. They are so misleading. You should see me arguing with the TV whenever they come on!
Maria D
February 12th, 2010 at 12:49 pmpermalink
Maria, wow, what a story.
Heather: You can do it! Keep it up. And let us know how you do! We love hearing about everyone’s success on the health journey!
earthfare
February 12th, 2010 at 5:16 pmpermalink
I have been drinking diet soda’s for sooo long and am just now learning about how absolutely TERRIBLE the aspartame is for you. I’ve since switch to water and almond milk and I cannot believe how much my body and health have been improving. Give up the soda! I promise you won’t miss it after the cravings are gone!
Earth Fare you guys are the best at keeping us informed and motivated to live healthier lives!
Amanda H.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:37 pmpermalink
Was drinking 6 cans of Mountain Dew a day last summer now I am down to 1 or 2 a day =) and I am drinking a lot of water!
KC Steussy-Williams
February 13th, 2010 at 1:45 pmpermalink
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by EarthFareKNX: How does soda cause weight gain? Pls RT! http://bit.ly/9Q5Fzg…
uberVU - social comments
February 14th, 2010 at 5:07 pmpermalink
What a great resource!
pharmacy technician
February 17th, 2010 at 6:14 ampermalink
Is everyone aware that the federal government caused the beverage manufacturers to switch from cane sugar to high fructose corn syrup? The Feds placed quotas on imported sugar which cost U.S. consumers over three billion dollars per year. The action of the Feds has driven sugar prices in the U.S. to levels that are multiples of the world market prices.
The Feds also support corn growers with cash payments through the Farm Bill. This artificially lowers the price of high fructose corn syrup. It becomes much cheaper for beverage manufacturers to use HFCS as compared to corn sugar.
So your government is more interested in paying off their cronies than your health. Find out what your government is doing to your health and write your representatives and vote them out of office.
Roger V
February 17th, 2010 at 8:28 ampermalink
And don’t forget about the high sodium content in sodas that actually can leach the calcium from your bones, making them brittle.
Jennifer
February 17th, 2010 at 9:23 ampermalink
I have known sodas were bad for a long time. I had been journaling this morning about my addiction to diet sodas and actually started brainstorming about all the negatives they present in my life. I have come up with 14 and continue to add to my list. Among the reasons to stop drinking them….I spend an extra $736.00 a year if a 12 pack is $3.99. I sometimes buy them for more and sometimes less. I drink from 6 to 8 a day. I am plagued with migraine headaches. They make me crave sweet foods. I could go on. It was kismet that a friend sent this article to me this morning. Thanks for the info. I have had 0 diet sodas today. I feel dizzy and sick. Yet another reason people should give up this poison. I am selling my stock in coca cola!!!
Christy
February 17th, 2010 at 2:11 pmpermalink
Thank you for this article and for making it so easy to share, which I just did on FB. I don’t drink sodas myself and have been avoiding HFC’s like the plague for a number of years. I would like to add my encouragement to all of you who are trying to ‘wean’ yourselves: Keep up the good work, it does pay off!
Nancy M
February 17th, 2010 at 4:15 pmpermalink
I have been drinking your diet Zevia which has Stevia in it. Is this one o.k.?
Judy Holmes
February 17th, 2010 at 6:30 pmpermalink
Is your drink Zevia ok. It has Stevia in it.
Judy Holmes
February 17th, 2010 at 6:31 pmpermalink
I’ll tell you what happened to drinking water. The clorine, florides and other mystery matter that’s in that stuff that comes out of the tap, that’s what. The reason folks came up with so many many substitutes for water was that water was often unfit to drink. If water is supposed to be tasteless, how come you can taste differences in the water from city to city? And if anything is ever wrong with the water because something want awry at the local water facility, they don’t tell you for months, if ever.
The alternatives are pollute landfills with plastic bottles or “disposable” filters, or drink non-water. Which is what a lot of people do.
Michael
February 17th, 2010 at 11:26 pmpermalink
What about crystal light? Does it make you gain weight too?
Margo
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:22 ampermalink
The only thing about this that really bothers me is saying that “100% fruit or vegetable juice” won’t cause weight gain. The fruit juice may be better nutritionally, but an 8oz glass of organic grape juice has 160 calories compared to a 140 calories for an 8oz coke. Meaning that you’ll gain that same 15 pounds a year drinking one glass of grape juice everyday instead of coke, you’ll just get more antioxidants and polyphenols and whatnot too. Not saying coke is better, just that healthy calories can cause weight gain too.
references:
http://www.scojuice.com/products/juices/concord_grape_juice
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/us_nutrition.html
Beth
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 ampermalink
Once you delete the diet soda (or regular) from your diet, you will also find it doesn’t taste so good any more nor quench your thirst as well as water.
When I crave a soda, I like the RW Knudsens Sparkling Essence (lemon flavor). It does the trick! No calories, no sugar, or artifical sweeteners. Refreshing!
http://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/products/sparkling_essence
Kim
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:21 pmpermalink
Not only does the sugar cause weight gain, but the caffeine causes fat storage. I started drinking an all organic fair trade AA Arabica coffee with patented “buffered” caffeine and have lost 9 pounds since December. I will be at the “B” Skinny booth at the Natural Triad Health and Wellness Fair on April 10th at the GSO Colesium. I had such good results I decided to market! Call me if you want to learn more! 336-577-2411
Andrea MacDiarmid
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:34 pmpermalink
“And don’t forget about the high sodium content in sodas that actually can leach the calcium from your bones, making them brittle.”
Not true – soda is actually one of the things lowest in sodium that you can consume. 35 mg is VERY low. Go grab that can of coke or pepsi and compare it to anything you have in your kitchen. Soda will be one of the lowest. Some fruits and vegetables even have more sodium.
Brian
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:20 pmpermalink
Kim, great replacement! It’s true that it may be hard to stop drinking at first, but your body will adjust.
Beth, thanks for the insightful post. You are correct that fruit juice can have more calories than soda, but it is still a much more healthful beverage. Earth Fare believes in consuming healthful ingredients which is why we ban many unhealthful ones. We fight health at the ingredient level because we believe complete health is about more than just calories. No matter what you are consuming, it’s important to keep an eye on portions but even if you stay thin drinking soda, drinking juice is much better for you! Thanks for adding to the dialogue!
earthfare
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:39 pmpermalink
I have been trying to eat better. I have cut my sodas down to one a day first thing in the morning. As I add more fruit and vegetables and water to my diet, the soda is becoming less desirable. One of my favorite drinks in place of some of the soda is V8 Splash. Yummy. I’ve been trying to eat to a healthier me for about two weeks now. I’ve lost seven pounds.
Lisa
March 5th, 2010 at 9:05 ampermalink
Good luck to all trying to quit the soda habit. I too am trying to quit. I have quit in the past only to go back after long periods of being off the nasty stuff. It is such an addiction. I know the bad things about soda and still do it, thats what makes it worse in my case. I should never ever lift another soda to my mouth knowing all the bad stuff about it. I have completely quit in the past and never felt so great. How and why did I get addicted again.
Stick it out everyone, it will be worth it when we all ditch it. Thanks Earthfare.
Monisa
March 5th, 2010 at 8:34 pmpermalink
Hi Monisa, go you! It’s amazing how addictive big food corporatiosn will make their food. It’s great that you are sticking to it though! It will be worth it! Let us know if you need any support or have questions!
earthfare
March 8th, 2010 at 12:15 pmpermalink
[...] on Tomato Talk, we have discussed rising obesity rates, the link between sugary beverages and weight gain, and obesity prevention. In your comments, you suggested dietary changes, awareness about portion [...]
Tomato Talk » Blog Archive » Could a Soda Tax Really Improve Health and Reduce Obesity?
March 10th, 2010 at 5:09 pmpermalink
[...] Even the diet sodas as discussed in this recent article from Earth Fare are not any better and according to research, can cause even greater weight gain compared to regular [...]
Diet Sodas | Not Such a Sweet Deal
March 12th, 2010 at 11:24 ampermalink
Avoid trans fats and high fructose corn syrup. I offer this suggestion for a few reasons. First, they’re not good for you anyway. Second, you’ll eliminate a lot of the “bad foods” outright – no questions asked. You’ll have to become more selective in what you eat by avoiding these two nasty ingredients – which are in more foods than you probably care to know
Clenbuterol
March 15th, 2010 at 4:29 ampermalink
We agree that those ingredients are not good for you — that is why Earth Fare has a Food Philosophy that bans any product with those ingredients! You won’t find those ingredients on our store shelves.
earthfare
March 15th, 2010 at 3:57 pmpermalink
Diet Dr. Pepper is my downfall. I love the cold, the fizz, the sweet – it’s breakfast for me.
I am waiting for the study that shows these drinks are physically addictive. I know it’s terrible in every way. I kick it for a week or two every now and then (and lose weight and feel better), but go back – - it was easier to quit smoking 14 years ago.
I’ll try Kim’s Knudsen’s suggestion. That might do the trick. I also drink homemade ginger water sweetened with liquid Stevia – but no bubbles or caffeine so that’s for evenings. Mmmmm!
Sarah
March 16th, 2010 at 9:13 ampermalink
I’m not trying to push a specific product, but for those wanting an alternative to the “normal” colas and diet colas try Zevia. It’s a brand of soft drinks, they are all diet, and is sold at EarthFare. The drinks have no calories, fat, or net carbs. They are sweetened with Stevia (all natural) and are really good. I have had the cola and black cherry, but they come in 6-7 flavors. I was addited to Coke Zero and have stopped drinking them since I discovered Zevia.
Kim
March 19th, 2010 at 8:59 ampermalink
Thanks, Kim! thanks for the suggestion – we have heard from several 0people that this helps. Congratulations to you for breaking your coke zero addiction!
earthfare
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:57 ampermalink
I gave up soda years ago, and it made a world of difference. In the first 2 months I dropped 6 pounds. I have to include I began a 5 day a week workout regimen and portioned my meals. Since then I do have a glass at a barbecue or get together once in a while but never keep it in the house. Soda, however, wasn’t my sweet battle to overcome. I still fight my sweet tooth on a regular basis. However, I’ve been doing more research into aspartame and other artificial sweeteners and their side effects. It’s amazing what they’re hiding it in–down to my yogurts, crystal lights, and other sugar-free treats. Healthy right? October last year I started developing what we (docs and me) now think might be episodic migraines, and my husband and I have since gone through our cupboards and fridge and tossed all foods and juices with aspartame, HFCS, artificial flavorings, colors, etc. It’s too soon to tell if aspartame and HFCS are the tricky culprits for my sudden episodes, but I will at least sleep better knowing these healthy food changes will only help me in the end and certainly not hurt my journey of a more healthy life style. To all those trying, Good Luck! I do believe in not quitting cold turkey! I think in moderation and once in a while won’t hurt you, but the more you distance your body from the harmfulness of it the more you’ll realize you don’t need it when you do have that glass months later. It’s actually a great feeling!
)
Joy
April 9th, 2010 at 10:17 ampermalink
I too am trying to break up with diet soda. We have had a long off and on relationship that only leaves me miserable and longing to be free and healthy. We break up every now and then for a few days only to reunite in a moment of weakness at a restaurant or at the movies or when I tire of drinking water.. During my pregnancy, I gained a significant amount of weight. I stopped drinking caffeine diet soda but still continued to drink several cans a day. Since giving birth, I have been on a continual diet nightmare. I began working out again only to find my bones and knees screaming out after each workout. I kept drinking soda. Finally, my husband and I have made the choice to become a processed food free home and thus my decision to end my relationship with diet soda once and for all. We have only just begun our journey and are excited about the new store opening in Auburn. We hope to accomplish our goals and set the example of healthy living for our son. I am also curious to see after a few weeks how my knees and joints feel after eliminating diet soda from my life! I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Katie
April 20th, 2010 at 9:58 ampermalink
Wow, Katie! What an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing. It’s amazing to hear how soda affected your knees and joints. Keep on that health journey and your health/body will respond positively! We also cannot wait to be in Auburn — thanks for your excitement!
earthfare
April 20th, 2010 at 3:47 pmpermalink
no way, 15 lbs? oh, at least now i knew. never had skipped lunch without drinking a glass of soda. there is more to this than i should really know. after all we are talking about health and this way, i should minimize drinking soda.
bariatric surgery
Nicole
May 15th, 2010 at 12:50 pmpermalink
If only I had a nickel for every time I came to tomatotalk.earthfare.com.. Amazing post!
Moses Roper
May 27th, 2010 at 9:19 ampermalink
Nice post
Stonestreet
May 28th, 2010 at 12:32 pmpermalink
Good post, thanks for it!
Andrew A. Sailer
May 29th, 2010 at 4:34 ampermalink
I’m actually experienced with this, and I totally agree with you.
Daria Gambling
June 16th, 2010 at 1:10 pmpermalink