What happens to your body when you stop drinking soda? I've seen the results firsthand. My name is Andrew Hayes, and I'm a certified nutrition coach and Head of Lifestyle at Alta Coaching. We help busy people change their habits so they can hit their goals and stay fit forever. My clients often come in wanting to know how to lose weight or get toned, and one of the first things I ask them isn't about what gym they belong to, or how many protein shakes they pound. Instead, it's this: Do you drink soda? Because soda can be the #1 exacerbating factor in any number of health problems, including obesity. Even diet sodas can lead to weight gain. Here are the amazing things that happen to your body when you stop drinking soda, and some tips to make it work for you.
1
The First Noticeable Change: The First Day or Two of Giving Up Soda May Be Hard
Unfortunately the first day or two after giving up soda can be hard, especially if it was a daily habit. There is caffeine withdrawal, sugar withdrawal, and the general stress of feeling like you are "giving up" something you enjoy. You can expect to be irritable, tired, and experiencing sugar cravings.
2
The Second Noticeable Change: By Day Two or Three, You Will Start to Feel Better
By day 2 or 3 of giving up a soda habit you will start to feel more sustained energy. You will no longer have blood sugar spikes so you will feel more energetic all day long instead of having crashes. You will also see improvements in sleep which help with energy as well. You will still have sugar cravings at this time so stock up on fresh fruit or other nutrient-dense carbs (whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, etc.).
Related: I'm a Bikini Fitness Competitor and Here's My #1 Rule for Weight Loss
If everything else stays the same, removing a soda habit will almost certainly lead to weight loss in the first 1-3 weeks.
5
The Fifth Noticeable Change
By the end of week 1, you have a new identity. You are no longer a daily drinker of soda, which means you took a major step in improving your health. This is a huge win and should be celebrated. This will lead to improved self-confidence and likely further improvements in your diet and exercise. It's a snowball effect.
The additional benefits of giving up soda are too many to name, especially if you replace it with water. After about 1-2 weeks of giving up soda, you can expect clearer skin, improved digestion, better mood, healthier joints, improved immune health, better exercise performance, and more. Over the months and years, giving up soda (or having it very occasionally) can potentially decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Related: I'm a Celebrity Trainer and This is the Only Smoothie I Can't Live Without
7
My Advice For How to Quit Drinking Soda
Have a small amount of caffeine. If you don't drink coffee, don't quit caffeine cold turkey. Take small sips of coffee or tea to wean off caffeine slowly over a few days.
8
Drink Another Sparkling Beverage
Carbonated water or sugar-free sparkling tea are great alternatives with a similar mouthfeel without all the sugar.
9
Find Something New to Do at the Same Time
Willpower only lasts so long. If all you think about is not drinking soda, it will be all you think about. Treat yourself with something else: pick up a new hobby, do an outdoor activity with a friend, get a message, or anything else to take your mind off giving up soda.
10
Drink a Lot of Water
Drinking water can help you feel more full and reduce soda cravings. Many soda drinkers find water very bland or hard to drink compared to soda. If this is the case, Invest in electrolyte powders or tablets, such as Nuun or LMNT. These make water taste better and provide other benefits to help with water absorption. If you want to know more about how soda affects your health, don't miss my other article here on Body Network: 6 Disgusting Things Drinking Soda Does to Your Body.
🔥Body Booster: After about 1-2 weeks of giving up soda, you can expect clearer skin, improved digestion, better mood, healthier joints, improved immune health, better exercise performance, and more.
The additional benefits of giving up soda are too many to name, especially if you replace it with water. After about 1-2 weeks of giving up soda, you can expect clearer skin, improved digestion, better mood, healthier joints, improved immune health, better exercise performance, and more.
Once you quit drinking soda, the benefits abound. You may notice weight loss, improved mood, better mental clarity, and better oral hygiene, among other things. The sugar and acids found in soft drinks can wreak havoc on your teeth. They can eat away at the enamel of your teeth, as well as cause cavities.
Cutting back on your favorite fizzy drink can help. “Cutting soda out of your diet not only lowers your risk for weight gain, but may help you actually lose weight as well,” says Dr. Rodriguez-Lopez. Opting out of that 12 ounce can of soda saves about 140 calories and 32 grams of sugar.
That's because the chemicals that make up the artificial sweetener aspartame may have altered brain chemicals, nerve signals, and the brain's reward system, which leads to headaches, anxiety, and insomnia, according to a review in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The severity of symptoms vary from individual to individual, and most commonly include a headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling foggy/not clearheaded.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A MONTH OF QUITTING SODA? Around the one-month marker, the body has eliminated most traces of soda and restored a healthier biochemical balance. By this point, many people report notable weight loss, particularly around the mid-section where soda tends to deposit fat through abdominal visceral fat.
Coffee and tea are healthier alternatives and can keep you just as alert and on top of your day. Don't go cold turkey: Ease out of your soda habit a few ounces at a time. After a few weeks, you'll wonder why you were ever so dependent on the stuff.
By quitting you may see your weight go down. A nine-year study found that older adults who drank diet soda kept packing on belly fat. A piggyback study found that having a daily diet soda increases your chance of obesity by 65% during the next 10 years.
If you're drinking an average of 150 calories of soda every day, not drinking soda will save you 1,050 calories per week. Over a year's time, that translates to the equivalent of more than 15 pounds of fat — not including any weight you'd lose from other lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise.
Drinking water instead of soda can help with weight loss. It was previously thought that caffeinated beverages had diuretic properties, meaning that they cause the body to release water. However, studies show that fluid loss because of caffeinated drinks is minimal.
According to researchers, the sweet taste but zero calories from artificially sweetened drinks may degrade insulin function over time, perhaps contributing to poor metabolic health.
Quitting soda cold turkey might not be the best idea. You might just find yourself frustrated, fighting cravings and feeling deprived. Instead, make small, gradual changes.
By ditching soda, you will cut back on your overall added sugar consumption and have fewer sugar cravings, which benefits both your blood sugar levels and your waistline. Too much sugar can wreak havoc on the immune system. For one, added sugar consumption may lead to weight gain over time.
If you're trying to reduce the amount of soda that you drink, you can try to slowly reduce or limit the amount you drink over time. For example, if you drink one can a day, you could reduce this to one can every other day. Each week, you can set a new goal to drink less and less soda.
If you're drinking an average of 150 calories of soda every day, not drinking soda will save you 1,050 calories per week. Over a year's time, that translates to the equivalent of more than 15 pounds of fat — not including any weight you'd lose from other lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise.
Although water fasting may have some health benefits, it comes with many risks and dangers. For example, water fasting could make you prone to muscle loss, dehydration, blood pressure changes, and a variety of other health conditions.
Soda is bad for a person's health. Widespread evidence indicates that sugar-sweetened and diet soda can contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular problems. Alternatives to soda are widely available. They include water, milk, coffee, tea, and even fruit juices in moderation.
Dehydration: While soda may quench your thirst momentarily, it's not a good source of hydration. Soda contains caffeine, which is a diuretic and can cause dehydration if consumed in large amounts. 5. Increased Risk of Heart Disease: Drinking soda every day can increase your risk of heart disease.
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Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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