High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sodas
The bulk of soda sold have their sweetener being high fructose corn syrup. This includes nearly all the popular sodaas such as all Coke and Pepsi sodas, Dr. Pepper, and 7Up along with most off-brands (excluding nearly all diet sodas).
You've probably saw the commercials that ran for a few years that boasted of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) being nearly identical to sugar and how it was made from corn, but that's obviously a mask that is being put on to disguise the dangers of consuming HFCS.
HFCS is all empty calories. There is no nutritional benefit from consuming it, and it's loaded with calories. The body neads a certain amount of calories to function at its best; consuming too much results in weight gain, if it is not burned off with exercise. But sugar is empty calories as well, so how does one choose between HFCS and sugar?
Sugar Sodas
Most sodas that contain sugar display it proudly on their label in some way. The "throw-back" sodas that have emerged in the past year or more are also made with sugar instead of HFCS. That was the original sweetener for sodas.
Like HFCS, sodas made with sugar (even organic cane sugar) are empty calories. There is no nutritional benefit whatsoever from a sugar filled soda. People who switch to diet sodas from sugar and HFCS sodas usually see a ten pound drop in their weight. And consuming a lot of sugar on a regular basis can easily lead to diabetes. Sugar also promotes tooth decay which most everyone already knows.
Artificial Sweetener Sodas
Artificial sweeteners are weak carcinigens which means they are cancer promoting in your body. I only say weak because it's only been tested in animals which scientists have linked to its being a carcinigen, but there have been some definite links to artifical sweeteners to cancer of the bladder.
It can also cause headache, dizziness, change in mood, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, change in vision, diarrhea, seizures, memory loss, depression, and fatigue in some individuals. A few extra pounds from drinking regular soda doesn't sound so bad right now, does it?
In various studies done, artificial sweeteners have been show to promote no weight loss. If fewer calories are being consumed by using artifical sweeteners, one would wonder why the weight would then not be lost. The studies were inconclusive as to why.
So what's the least harmful soda?
The best option is to stop drinking soda and start drinking water. A lot of people are dehydrated from their overuse of sodas. Sodas are not hydrating and most people need a lot more water than they're drinking. Try switching to a sparkling water to get the same bubble as soda. Your body will thank you.
