Why I Quit Drinking 28 Liters of Carbonated Beverages Per Week and How It Changed My Life
You may think that a part-time employee would want to take their time shopping at a peaceful Aldi at 11 a.m. on a weekday, but I have never seen that to be the case. To avoid panicking if I run out of fizzy drinks in the middle of the week, Mondays are my hard-lifting days. To quench my thirst, I normally try to get 14 two-liter bottles.
Without fizzy pop, I couldn’t picture my existence. Since I’ve been drinking it for more than ten years, my habit has become worse. A big bottle is always with me, whether it’s in my suitcase or by my bedside at night. Even so, almost everyone has told me how awful it is. The woman in front of me at the checkout the last time I went on a run for fizzy drinks gave me a quick pat on the back and joked, “I stopped drinking diet Coke when I heard you can clean toilets with it!”
The Hidden Dangers of Carbonated Beverages
More authoritatively, a recent Telegraph article found that, even though they are sugar-free, diet beverages like mine may be just as harmful to our health. According to experts, artificial sweeteners may cause sugar cravings by upsetting the delicate balance of beneficial microorganisms in the stomach. According to other studies, aspartame and sucralose, two artificial sweeteners used in soft drinks, have been linked to one in ten occurrences of type 2 diabetes and may also cause insulin resistance over time.
My medical advice has been piling up lately. Two months ago, my dentist and general practitioner advised me to convert to water. My doctor ordered blood testing for diabetes after I complained of being thirsty, but the results were negative. I’ve discovered that experts’ recommendations to “drink more water” are not always followed, and not everyone finds water to be particularly appetizing.
I’m not the only one. About 15 billion liters of soft drinks were drunk in the UK in 2023, according to Statista estimates. A staple of contemporary society is carbonated soft drinks. With 38.6% of the non-alcoholic beverage market in the UK, they had the most share in 2023.
Dr. Hana Patel, a general practitioner with a focus on mental health, thinks that the high caffeine level in diet fizzy drinks, together with the addition of sugars and chemicals, is what makes them so addictive.
“Caffeine causes the brain’s feel-good hormone dopamine to be released, which makes you crave more of it, just like alcohol and drugs do,” she explains.
The Negative Impact of Carbonated Beverages on Your Teeth
Dr. Hanna Kinsella, a dentist, advises limiting the use of carbonated beverages since excessive consumption might erode tooth enamel.
According to Dr. Kinsella, “Drinking too much can gradually weaken your teeth, and sometimes the damage could be bad enough to need treatments like fillings or crowns.” “Your teeth are more vulnerable to more serious dental issues in the future the more enamel you lose.”
The UK’s mental health crisis is another concerning trend, with an increasing proportion of adults, kids, and teens receiving prescriptions for psychiatric drugs like mine for schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder. According to psychiatrist Dr. Harold Hong of New Waters Recovery, one regrettable side effect of these life-saving medications is that they might cause us to want carbonated beverages.
Certain mental health drugs, such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, may produce dry mouth, which makes sodas more alluring since they ease the pain. Saliva production is stimulated by carbonation, which momentarily relieves dry mouth. Additionally, he claims that drugs like my antipsychotic alter energy levels and that when we’re seeking a fast pick-me-up from sugar or caffeine, our taste perception may make sweet, fizzy beverages appear more fulfilling.
How I Kicked the Habit of Fizzy Drinks
I determined that enough was enough six weeks ago when the medical advice I had gotten finally overshadowed my desires. Barney, my healthy buddy and mentor, recommended substituting electrolytes—hydration sachets and pills that also include vitamins and minerals—for carbonated diet beverages. The next day, I received the £40 worth of flavored electrolytes that I had purchased from Amazon. The reason I liked the Phizz ones is because they glitter. I simply purchased twelve two-liter bottles of sparkling water to add the electrolytes to on my next weekly shopping trip. Dash cans, which are fruit-twisted sparkling water without added sugar or sweeteners, were also recommended by a friend. I like the peach one. It’s a delight, but pricey. I sometimes create my own by incorporating a little bit of orange juice into my sparkling water.
After six weeks, I became aware that I was losing a significant amount of weight. According to nutritionist Sarah Abdula of The Slimming Clinic, this could be because the chemicals and sweets in my diet and sugar-free carbonated beverages might trigger weight gain.
According to Abdula, “a large percentage of the population has switched to diet cola because original cola contains 139 calories per can, whereas diet cola contains one calorie.” However, our brain responds to artificial sweeteners similarly to it does to regular sugar, so even when we consume a diet soda, our brain sends our pancreas to make insulin, which instructs our cells to store sugar as fat, she says.
According to research, the body may produce more ghrelin after consuming carbonated beverages, whether they are original or diet. This hormone can increase hunger. According to one study, ingesting diet drinks caused the brain’s reward system to become more active, which in turn caused them to consume more food after consuming sucralose beverages.
The mere fact that I’ve lost five pounds and counting makes me believe that giving up these beverages was a wise decision. While I still like a glass of fizzy pop with takeout and dining out, I’m reserving it for special occasions like when I have a glass of wine or a pint. Overall, however, because of the sedative effects of my long-term antipsychotics, I have a bit more energy to remain up longer—something I haven’t been able to accomplish for many years.
What to Drink in Place of Carbonated Beverages
According to Dr. Patel, tap water may also be used as a soda substitute. Milk is nourishing and gentle on teeth, and water is beneficial. Once a day, a modest portion of pure juice or a smoothie is acceptable as part of a meal. It has minerals and vitamins. Additionally, the smoothies include a small amount of fiber. Servings that are large or frequent will include excessive amounts of sugar. Dr. Hong concurs and recommends herbal teas as yet another great way to slake thirst.
Herbal tea and tap water still seem tasteless to me. However, I now see myself as an alchemist or mixologist, mixing various sachets and pills while sipping coffee at my coffee table. For rewards, I use the money I’ve been saving to try the newest health drink, or I try little quantities of pure fruit juices diluted with sparkling water. In addition to saving money and reducing weight, it has been an enjoyable step toward better health.