We all know that choosing to drink a soda over a glass of water is not the best choice, but there is something so addictive about those sugary bubbles and soda is sometimes hard to resist.  Because soda is an addiction, however, there are some things we think you should know about how soda affects your body.  Similar to smoking or drinking alcohol, it feels good to consume soda.  Unfortunately, an increasing amount of research is beginning to decry the negative effects of soda consumption, especially if you drink it on a regular basis.  In fact, evidence shows that your health will likely improve dramatically once you begin choosing a cool glass of water over a Coke or even a Diet Pepsi as almost every organ in the human body responds negatively to the consumption of soda.  Take a look at how soda affects these vital organs and we think you will agree… it may be time to quit.

Heart:  A 2012 Harvard University study determined that consuming sugary drinks significantly increases a person’s risk of chronic heart disease and participants in the study who drank the most soda were 20% more likely to have a heart attack.  In other words, choosing to drink water instead of soda is one of the best things you can do for one of the most vital organs in your body.  Another similar study published in 2011 discovered that sugary beverages raise blood pressure as well and the increase has a direct link to the amount of soda you consume.  If you want to be heart healthy, soda is off the menu.

Bladder:  Because soda is a diuretic, it will make your bladder work harder, causing you to urinate more frequently and urgently.  Soda can irritate your bladder as well, leading to an increase in bladder or urinary tract infections.  Drinking clear fluids, like water or seltzer water, will keep your bladder cleaner, allowing it to function better.

Bones:  If you want strong and healthy bones, giving up soda is step number 1.  Soda can weaken bone health and increase your risk of osteoporosis.  In addition, the less soda you drink, the more milk you may drink and such calcium rich drinks actually benefit your bones, making you stronger and healthier.

Kidneys:  Studies have shown that drinking a lot of soda can increase your risk of kidney disease and even ultimately increase your risk of renal failure.  Diet sodas are just as damaging and researchers from the Nurses’ Health Study found that women who drank a substantial amount of diet soda every day had decreased liver function compared to women who did not drink soda at all.  Bottom line:  your kidneys don’t need all the sugary soda and don’t know how to process it.

Weight Loss:  If strong and healthy organs aren’t enough to convince you to quit drinking soda, would you believe that cutting soda from your diet is one of the easiest ways to lose weight?  According to certain weight loss experts, dropping just one large Coke from your diet a day could reduce your annual caloric intake by over 200,000 calories.  This is the equivalent of losing 60 lbs. of weight – in just one year!  Even diet soda drinkers run the risk of weight gain, so don’t be fooled.  Some studies have shown that there is a possible link between diet soda and increased appetite, leading to increased weight gain.  Either way, the evidence is clear.  A good way to overcome being overweight is to replace your daily soda with water.

For those of us who love our soda, quitting can be just as hard as quitting smoking or letting go of other addictive behaviors and substances.  The benefits, however, are indisputable.  Losing the soda in your diet will not only help you feel better, it will help you live better… and living better is always the best choice.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov  to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents.  Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.

Red wine, in moderation, has been found to contain powerful substances that benefit the heart, the nervous system, and even your teeth, and it may even offer some cancer protection. It has been said that red wine is good for a man’s health in a number of ways, according to many studies.  But the alcohol in red wine has little to do with it, red wine happens to contain powerful antioxidants, substances that protect your cells against damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.  The health benefits from wine are the same for men and women, but men can drink more given their generally larger body mass — one or two 4-ounce glasses of wine per day — while women should consume only one glass.  You still need to practice moderation when you drink, research suggest  having more than this amount has been tied to heart disease, liver damage, and other health problems.  Red Wine is rich in Antioxidants which will keep free radicals from attacking the body’s cells and contributing to destructive processes inside the body. (more…)