It’s been a long time since my last tirade, so I’m definitely past due.
Combine that with the fact, I finally watched the last installment of HBO’s The Weight of the Nation and life just bitched slapped me (more on that later), and my watch says it’s time to rage….or rant, so here we go. Cue angry hip-hop: “You can hate me now.. but I won’t stop now.. Cause I can’t stop now.. you can hate me now.” I’d share the full clip, but it’s a wee bit inappropriate and too strong for my present state of mind since I don’t want to give anger more than it’s fair share of my energy. Instead, I’m going release it by writing about it, so Happy Monday to you. I hope you enjoy my binge and purge session (verbally this is great, food-wise, it’s never ok) or at the very least return tomorrow to the calmer, gentler Meghan who believes in peace, love and bunnies. And unicorns. Do not forget the fucking unicorns.
I don’t care if you are too skinny, overweight, average, or obese, you need to put down the soda pop. Unless you drink that stuff once in a blue moon, you have to stop. It’s that simple. Alright I’ll be honest, if you drink this vile sludge all the time, then it’s not simple because anytime you give up an addiction, it’s gonna be hard, but soda is one of the worst things you can put in your body, especially if you are drinking diet, which is an entirely different post for a different day.
Giving up soda is one of the best thing’s you can do for yourself. Don’t believe me…try it for a month and see how you ultimately feel. I promise, once you get past the withdrawal, you’ll be and feel better for it. I know because in a former life, I used to drink it all the time. True story. I spent college and many a year post schooling drinking soda, and I was also flabby and lazy. There’s a correlation.
Nothing good comes from soda pop. It is 100% empty and worthless sugar calories. Literally, it is devoid of any and all nutritional value. Check out the stats on a can of sugar, er I mean pop. Other than the sugar and carbs, the rest of the numbers reflect big fat zeros, since there are no nutritional benefits in it. I repeat you are not doing your body any favors by drinking that swill. I might not eat meat, but I can at least see the nutritional benefit of doing so (vitamins, minerals, and protein…oh my). The same can actually be said for most candy bars (not that I’m advocating these), but not soda pop because let’s hear it, all in one strong voice now: nothing good comes from soda pop.
Simply put, soda is a boat load of crap, and here’s a few reasons why: http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-reasons-quit-drinking-soda-pop-219521.html?cat=51
- Dehydration. Soda dehydrates you, so you’re still thirsty, and therefore drink more soda (tricky, tricky bastards).
- High in Empty Calories.
- Caffeine Addiction, need I say more.
- Chock Full of artificial sweeteners and flavors. If it tastes like caramel and looks like caramel, then it must be…an artificial flavor (you thought I was going to say caramel didn’t ya?).
- Mineral Depletion, which is especially important for the ladies. Soda will leech calcium from your bones making them brittle. Do you want to be the seventy year lady who breaks her hip just by sneezing?
- Sugar Highs and Lows because you’re so much fun to be around when you’re on an emotional roller coaster (snort).
- Reduce risk of diabetes. Do you really need a better reason?
My advice is put down the soda and back away from the can, as fast as possible.
This stuff is toxic, and it pisses me off. I’m more angry with the soda companies than I am with the average consumer who drinks soda (although if you still drink it regularly after reading this post, then you are on your own). I’m furious with the likes of Pepsi and Coco-Cola who knowingly sell a product which is 100% bad for you, but they also market the hell out of it and profit immensely from it. They are getting rich and making us sick and fat all at the same time. They should be so proud…
Imagine if the tobacco companies could advertise in the same manner…oh wait, they used to do that. Remember Joe Camel, the cartoon character who sucked down cancer on a daily basis, and my personal favorite: candy cigarettes. Now they call them candy sticks, but back in the day, they were full-fledged cigarettes and little children walked around pretend smoking. I was one of those little tykes, and this does not make me old (shit, maybe it does). In today’s society, a toddler and a smoke would be considered child abuse, but no ones bats an eye at a three-year old guzzling Pepsi, and we wonder why diabetes is on the rise in children. This has to change.
We have to start seeing soda for what it truly is, which might not happen until they stop marketing it like the second coming. Case in point, American Idol and the X Factor, nice kid friendly shows, might as well be pimps for the soda companies since their logo is plastered everywhere.
Don’t you ever wonder why it’s always shown in a cup and not just the soda in its original vehicle (a can or plastic bottle)? Sure, the mammoth-sized cup looks nicer, but I’d bet money it’s because they’re not drinking soda. These judges have enough people on their payroll telling them to stay away from pop, and let’s be honest, their skin is way too clear to actually be downing Pepsi on a weekly basis.
Well, that’s it for my little tirade; I even exhausted myself. Since I ranted about the dangers of soda, let me give you some type of replacement because it would be cruel not to. Plus, I figure if you made it this far in today’s post, then you deserve a substitute.
So the easiest and best way to replace your soda is to drink water. Straight up pure and simple water. Not only is it amazing for you, but it also has zero calories and just happens to be free (now you’re talking).
If you think water is boring all on its own, then spice it up. Add some lemons, limes, cucumber, mint, strawberries, whatever suits your fancy or floats your boat.
Now that I’ve gotten your attention, please, I beg you, put down the soda and back away from the can. Your body and your mind will thank you. Try it, I promise.
Do you still drink soda? Would you ever give it up? If not, what’s your go to replacement?
Laura Rees says
I’m ok with no soda, but I don’t think I could ever give up my coffee!
Meghan says
Me neither. I do love my coffee and have a cup every morning.
Da says
Drink beer, not soda.
Meghan says
Or hard cider. 😉
MassachusEATS says
Yes – love this!! Great info…I hope that people read this and think twice about guzzling soda. It is so incredibly awful for your health and body. Even worse are the “diet” kinds, with all their gross fake sugars. Thankfully I’ve never really liked soda so drinking just water has never been an issue and I actually prefer it to any other kind of drink…though once in a great while, I feel inclined to get a root beer float. 😉
Meghan says
Well now a root beer float is a whole other story. 😉
Glad to hear I’m not alone on this one; I just wish it wasn’t so prevalent in today’s society.
Viv says
If you’re trying to wean yourself off soda, try this as you gradually get to pure, simple water:
Perrier (sparkling water)
Add lemon or lime
Add stevia (little goes a long way!)
Stir.
After awhile, you may be able to skip the stevia. After more time, you can skip the bubbles and go for water with lemon. One day soon, simple, filtered water may just be what you’re craving. Really, just try it.
Meghan says
Thankfully I’m off the soda and have been for years now, but your tips are great, as always. Love the stress relief one from last week and have been using it faithfully.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I honestly have no idea why or how people drink soda anymore. Just a sip makes me want to gag.
Meghan says
You and me both. It makes me crazy to see how ridiculously popular it is though.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
I’m not a soda drinker and haven’t been for hmm, about 4 years now, but I used to drink it RELIGIOUSLY in college. So much so that I had to start making a conscious effort to limit myself to one can a day…of course it didn’t make it any better that diet was my poison of choice. It took me a while to realize it, but eventually, I put two and two together and realized that the aspartame in my beloved Diet Dew was giving me horrible migraines. So I just gave it up. Yeah, I had a few headaches while I was breaking my caffeine addiction, but I don’t miss it ONE bit!
Love your little tirade…and I learned something! I had no idea about the mineral depletion! Oh if only I could get my parents to listen…I swear my dad drinks more coffee and soda than ANYTHING else! 🙁
Oh and that cola advertisement with the baby? Totally made my eyes bug out! o.O
Meghan says
Oh good, I’m glad I didn’t scare you away. I enjoy a really good rant sometimes, but am worried others might not like it so much.
I completely get where you’re coming from with your dad. I have friends and family who put down soda like crazy and also have some real health issues but never seem to make the connection. If only…..