By Amy Ball, NASM, USAT trainer
Ahhh… the refreshing thought of an ice cold soda pop being poured over a tall glass of ice. Nothing sounds better in the summer heat, sitting by the pool with an all-American hotdog and potato salad on your plate.
For many, a soda is a regular part of the day, whether it is the caffeine pick up, the sweet taste, or the fizzy refreshment. Soda has been a part of an American pastime for generations. But let’s talk about what a can of soda does to the body.
We all know there are a lot of empty calories in soda and as a result many soda drinkers turn to diet sodas. This may lower the caloric intake but it does not change the effect it has on our body in regards to our pH level. What exactly is our pH? This is the alkalinity and acidity of our body. The normal range for the human body is 7.4 on the pH scale; water is about 7. Our body constantly tries to keep our pH at or close to 7.4.
Back to that can of soda. When we drink a can of soda it makes our body too acidic. When that happens our blood cannot function normally. The blood cells cannot transport oxygen and nutrients as quickly nor can it remove carbon dioxide or wastes as quickly.
Why? Because our blood turns into sludge and moves very slowly. This happens because the blood cells can’t bounce off each other and so they stick to each other instead. This may explain why we don’t have as much energy.
There are lots of things that are acidic in our world, such as processed foods, pesticides, pollution, alcohol, tobacco, unnatural fruit juices, even energy drinks, and of course, sodas. So the next time you pop open that ice cold Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi or any soda, keep in mind that it takes 33 glasses of water to neutralize 1 can of soda. Water is good but that is a lot of water!
Make a smart choice: drink real fruit juice or water the next time you’re really thirsty. Your body and blood will thank you.