How I did it: I began with the rule that I would only drink soda when going out to dinner. I didn't buy soda for home, thus reducing the temptation.

At the same time, I began drinking tea -- particularly organic green tea, which is high in antioxidants. I also drink a lot of organic raw kombucha, which is a very healthful tea made from a type of mushroom.

There are so many delicious teas out there, whether you prefer green, white, black, floral, or sweet kinds.

Knowing the health benefits of tea keeps me drinking it, just as knowing the harmful effects of soda turned me off of it.

Lessons & tips: 1. Take the time to read about it. The more I learned about the effects of soda, the more motivation and willpower I had to stop drinking it. My advice is -- learn all you can about it! The more you keep the subject on your mind, the easier it will be to avoid temptation.

2. You don't have to go cold-turkey, or cut out soda entirely. There is no shame in drawing a line wherever you want it. Make a rule that you only drink soda when you go out to dinner, or only when it's made without corn syrup.

3. Small steps matter! You can keep moving along in small steps if you wish. Once you've been living on corn-syrupless soda for a few months, you could take more steps to avoid soda altogether. But every step counts. If you reduce your intake at all, it's worth it.

4. Reasons to avoid soda:

• The high acidity of soda destroys teeth enamel (especially when brushing right after drinking). The color of soda also stains teeth.
  
• Corn syrup is a highly processed byproduct of the corn manufacturing industry, and is by no means good for you. The more processed a food, the worse it is for one's body. (Raw, organic honey and organic cane sugar are more healthful.)
  
• Soda contains extremely high amounts of sugar, which is difficult for your body to regulate. Eating lots of sugar significantly increases your risk of diabetes, and can lead to weight gain and obesity.
  
• Many sodas contain caffeine, which is a diuretic (meaning it causes you to urinate more, and thus lose more water). In essence, caffeine dehydrates the body, which decreases its ability to function properly.
  
• Most sodas are not organic, meaning they were made with ingredients that were exposed to toxic pesticides. Pesticides are a leading cause of cancer. Please avoid them.

Nov 24, 2008, 04:11PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer