Why Is Soda Bad for You?

Both regular and diet sodas are linked to obesity, certain cancers and kidney damage, and regular sodas are accused of elevating blood pressure. Regular soda is also a significant source of empty calories and sugars in people’s diets, with nutritionists and doctors recommending that anyone looking to lose weight begin by eliminating soda entirely. It is also theorized that the body has difficulty recognizing calories from liquids.

Some studies indicate a link between diet soda and increased risk of heart disease, while others have announced that artificial sweeteners found in diet soda increase appetite. There is a high degree of correlation between being overweight and drinking sugary beverages. Calorie tracking has reported that people who drink sodas on certain days are more likely to overeat on those days, giving rise to the theory that the body has difficulty recognizing calories from liquids and compels people to increase calorie intake.

Research also demonstrates that the body metabolizes sugar from soda differently, converting it to fat rather than into fuel. While naturally occurring fructose is healthy, the high amount of fructose found in carbonated drinks is processed in the liver, where it is turned into a fat that puts people at risk for diabetes and liver disease.