Will my body heal itself of damage caused by soft drink consumption?

Question

I have read more and more studies confirming many health concerns of soft drink consumption. I am in great physical shape but more concerned about artery damage, osteoporosis, and other major illnesses linked to heavy soda "drinking." I have gone through periods of little consumption, but often drink 1-3 12oz. cans a day and I am planning on quiting TODAY if my body will reverse effects. Serious answers please! Thanks!

Answer 1

1-3 cans a day is not heavy consumption.
My wife was drinking a 2 liter a day and then some more.
As far as I know there is no lasting damage, except if you go too long with excessive consumption acid reflux may be a life long problem. Sucks to be her!

Answer 2

Serious answer - Don't worry about it. Your view of digestion and the body's use of nutrients is at the same time overly simplistic and overly complicated.

Your body doesn't know its having a soft drink. It breaks the soft drink down into chemicals which it uses it to fuel itself, just like it does everything else. No single food item in your diet, if the rest of your lifestyle is healthy, will give you any problems, unless it is literally a poison.

The ingredients in a soft drink are usually chiefly carbonated water and sugar with caramel coloring and a bit of caffeine. Sugar gets a bad rap, but it isn't anything. All good food gets turned into a sugar by your body. That's the only food your cells can be fueled by. The "problem" with sugar is that it is extremely easy to digest, and your body gets a lot of calories from it. Calories are not bad. Calories are good. They keap you alive. THe problem is if you get so many your body starts storing them as excessive fat.

Carbonated water is completely neutral health wise. It's water with carbon dioxide disolved in it. It's only problem is it is a bit acidic, like a lemon, but less. If your sdrink way too much at one time, often, and without food, it could hurt your belly. If you drink normally, the bubbles will actually calm your stomach and be pleasent for it. If you have a inclination for mouth ulcers, cO2 water can aggrevate them, as can anything acidic.

So basically, your soda is pleasant tasting and doesn't have anything in it that can cause you any harm if your lifestyle is a normal one. The caffeine could be a problem if you get addicted to it, so just drink cafffein free sodas if you'll be drinking a lot. 3 cans isn't a lot.

Answer 3

The body has an incredible ability to self-heal, but it needs your help of course. By changing your dietary habits, you can not only stem the effects of soft-drink consumption, but can also reverse it. Whenever you are thirsty, try pure filtered water instead, this will help flush your system of all the toxins that you have ingested over the years. If you are concerned about osteoporosis, consider this: North America has the highest rate of this disease, yet we consume the most milk, cheese and meat in our diets. The problem with this is that the more animal protein that we consume, the more calcium is lost through the urine. For stronger healthier bones, a plant-based diet is highly recommended.
Uncle O

Answer 4

How about a few links to these "studies".

I've never heard about arterial damage from drinking soda? What is it, the caffeine? The sugar? The carbonation? What could cause arterial damage any more than coffee, tea, orange juice, or water? Osteoporosis? Once again, from what?

Personally, I rarely drink soda (carbonation can make me burp whole sentences). I just think this is more junk science.

EDIT: Thanks for the study info. I'll be sure to check it out.

Answer 5

Yes, the body is very good at healing itself. Watch your sugar and caffeine intake too. No sense switching one problem for another!