Drinking Soda: Like eating a tablespoon of toxic chemicals in every glass!

Most people feel they need to avoid sugar at all costs and turn to diet sodas as a substitute. They think they'll get the sweet taste without the calories. Turns out the calories in sugar are probably better than the chemicals in aspartame.

We're not saying drink sugar filled soda instead. In fact, you shouldn't drink soda at all. There are all kinds of chemical additives in sodas that are bad for you. As a general rule, you probably shouldn't eat or drink things that contain ingredients that you can't pronounce without looking in your high school chemistry text book. Let's take a look at exactly what's on the ingredients list for Coke Zero:

"Carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, aspartame, potassium benzoate (to protect taste), natural flavors, potassium citrate, acesulfame potassium, caffeine."

The FDA approved acesulfame potassium for use in 1998. Before that, research indicated that there may be a link between the chemical and cancer. Phosphoric acid is actually more acidic than lemon juice or vinegar and it is commonly used for rust removal. Imagine what it does to your teeth! Caramel color sounds pretty harmless, right. But it's not the caramel you think of in candies and chocolates. To get this "caramel color" soda makers have to mix sugar with ammonia sulfite to create the dark brownish black color you expect from a cola.

If someone asked you to eat a spoonful of phosphoric acid, you'd say "no way!" So why is it okay to consume these chemicals in a glass of pop? Sodas are nutritionally bankrupt foods that don't add anything to improve your health or your life. You don't need to understand chemistry to know that drinking soda of any kind is unhealthy and dangerous. Don't be fooled by the bubbly sweetness!