The Impact of Soda on Your Health

Impact of Soda on Your Health

What you drink matters. Everything that you ingest has an impact on your health. The vast majority of Americans fail to meet the recommended amount of daily water intake, leading to significant dehydration impacting one’s health.

Are you someone who regularly reaches for a soda when thirsty? After reading the following information, I hope that you think twice before reaching for your favorite carbonated beverage.

There is no benefit that can be obtained from drinking soda. Just one can contains 10 teaspoons of sugar, which is equivalent to a person’s daily-recommended amount. Within an hour of drinking soda, your blood sugar spikes. This causes an insulin burst that tricks your liver into converting all sugars into fat. After about 40 minutes, the caffeine has been absorbed into your body. Your body then responds with dilated pupils and increased blood pressure, and the liver dumps more sugar into your blood stream.

sodas negative impact on your health

Over time, soda consumption has a significant impact on your health. Soda consumption can interfere with neurological process, particularly those involved in making memories. A study published in Neuroscience found that a diet full of added sugar can reduce the production of the chemical brain-derived neutrophic factor (BDNF). When these levels are not high enough, cognitive tasks such as learning and the formation of memories become more difficult.

Consuming one can of soda a day dramatically increases your risk of developing chronic heart disease (CHD). Researchers of a Harvard University study found that “consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with a higher risk of CHD and some adverse changes in lipids, inflammatory factors, and leptin.”

Moreover, with every sip of your favorite carbonated beverage, you are causing damage to your teeth. The sugar in these drinks bonds to the bacteria in your mouth, which allows the rise of acid, that weakens the enamel of your teeth that can lead to cavities.

Do you think drinking diet soda is better for you? Think again. Diet soda drinkers have the same health problems as those who drink regular soda, if not more. Diet sodas are packed with artificial sweeteners that disrupt your body’s ability to process real sugar. The consumption of fake sugar confuses your body into thinking that it needs to process real food. When your body realizes it didn’t get what it was expecting, it doesn’t know how to respond. When a diet soda drinker consumes real sugar, his or her body is unable to recognize it as real and it doesn’t release the hormone that regulates blood pressure and blood sugar. According to Susan Swithers, “you’ve messed up the whole system, so when you consume real sugar, your body doesn’t know if it should try to process it because it’s been tricked by the fake sugar so many times.”

Diet soda may actually cause you to gain weight. Dr. Melina Jampolis states, “Research shows that sweet taste can increase appetite and the regular consumption of high intensity sweetness of artificial sweeteners may encourage sugar cravings and dependence.” Artificial sweeteners may also dampen your brain’s reward center, and that can cause you to over-indulge in more sweet-tasting, calorie-rich foods.

More about the health impacts of diet and regular soda consumption can be found here. What happens to your health when you stop drinking soda? That can be found here.

Before reaching for your favorite carbonated beverage please consider the long-term impact it can have on your health. Is the drink really worth it?

Considering Bariatric Surgery: Do You Know The True Risks?

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]bariatric surgery

Many of us are aware of the obesity epidemic that is happening in the United States and all over the world. 1 in 3 adults are considered obese. Since 1988, the average American male has gained over 17 pounds while the average female has gained about 15 ½, Spotlight on Obesity reports. If these trends continue, nearly 43% of all Americans will be obese by 2018. The CDC also reports that the annual medical cost of obesity in America is $147 billion and the annual medical cost for obese persons versus average weight individuals is $1,429 more.

As a result quick fix solutions, ranging from medications to bariatric surgery, have become the sought after solution for many people. If you are considering bariatric surgery or other weight loss surgery methods such as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrostomy, and duodenal switch with biliapancreatic division, please understand all the risks, complications and costs before deciding if this is the best step for your health and weight loss journey.

 

Weight Loss Surgery Cost

When considering weight loss surgery, you must evaluate the cost. Many surgeons will tell you this is really one of your only options to ever improve your health. First, this is false, we will share some alternative weight loss options later in this post. Second, bariatric surgeons want to perform these operations; the more weight loss surgeries they perform the more money the surgeons and hospitals make. Often, they do not share true alternatives to weight loss surgery, as it would ultimately affect their bottom line. In addition factor in the costs for complications or side effects that may require hospitalization, additional doctor’s visits and medications.

 

Average weight loss surgery costs between $14,900-$23,000. Most insurance carriers offer some weight loss surgery coverage, but few cover the entire procedure. Consider all the out of pocket expenses you will incur from this procedure. Many weight loss surgery providers recommend taking out a loan to cover all the medical expenses. Strongly consider if an additional monthly loan similar to an average car payment is worth it when effective and safe alternatives exist for weight loss.

 

Weight Loss Surgery Blood Clots

Other than the risks associated with having a general anesthetic, there are many other problems that can arise after weight loss surgery . Blood clots in the legs are a serious concern for anyone who has had major surgery, but blood clots are one of the worst bariatric surgery risks. Patients have restricted movement after weight loss surgery, so blood clots may build up in the legs and travel up to the lungs, blocking their ability to take in oxygen. There is also the chance of an infection developing inside the surgical cut, especially if the wound is not properly cared for. While these are short-term risks, blood clots have the potential to cause long-term health concerns, especially if the blood clot triggers a severe heart attack or stroke.

 

Inability to Absorb Nutrients in the Digestive Tract

Some weight loss surgeries that alter the digestive tract may result in very severe protein and vitamin deficiencies that can be fatal if left untreated. The more complicated a procedure is, the worse the bariatric surgery risks become. The Roux-en-Y and the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch are two classic examples of procedures that can cause absorption issues in the digestive tract. The biliopancreatic diversion without the duodenal switch is another procedure known to cause nutritional deficiencies. Of the three surgeries, the biliopancreatic diversion without the duodenal switch is the riskiest. In fact, the biliopancreatic diversion without the duodenal switch is rarely performed due to the chances of developing a serious nutrient deficiency. Vitamin and protein deficiencies caused by an inability to properly absorb nutrients can lead to severe complications such as heart failure and dementia. You will be required to take a variety of supplements and vitamins for the rest of your life, that may help lessen these risks. However, these absorption inabilities will be a life long risk and need to be monitored carefully.

 

Osteoporosis and Weakened Skeletal Structure

Calcium deficiencies are usually associated with procedures that change the way the digestive tract absorbs nutrients. In some cases, a calcium deficiency may result in a stooped back and brittle bones. Medication is often required to prevent worsening symptoms. In some cases, patients who receive weight loss surgery may develop osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a permanent, potentially life-threatening bone disease that results in significant bone degeneration, leading to bones that are easily broken and fractured.

 

Long-Term Intolerance to Food

During the bariatric surgery recovery time, you may develop long-term nausea that causes intolerance to food. Some patients are unable to eat without vomiting or experiencing severe nausea. In some cases, hospitalization is required to avoid malnutrition, which is one of the most common and severe risks. This is one of the most uncomfortable long-term bariatric surgery risks, and there is no way to tell prior to surgery if it will happen to you. If this does happen post weight loss surgery, you will be required to be on medications that reduce nausea.

 

Weight Loss Surgery Alternatives

Weight loss surgery and a life long adherence to medications are not the only the options to live long and healthy life. Keep in mind medications and weight loss surgery provides a band-aid fix and doesn’t teach patients how to eat healthy naturally. In addition, many people have been down the weight loss path trying fad diets and weigh loss shakes that only work temporarily.

To achieve true weight loss success, you need to learn how to eat healthy, serving sizes, allow time and your plan must be personalized. Here at Solstice Health, we have helped hundreds of patients achieve weight loss success through our medical weight loss program. No medications, pills, or tricks. We work with our clients to understand what healthy food is, understand serving sizes, and form a healthy relationship with food for life. Our weight loss program is a 4-phase program which guides you through each weight loss phase, adjusting your eating to accomplish life long healthy eating and achieve your ideal weight. Here is a recent weight loss success client who lost 167 lbs. naturally.

bariatric surgery

 

Contact Solstice Health today to learn more about our weight loss program.

 [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Shari’s Weight Loss Success Story

weight loss success Milwaukee

Meet Shari, and her journey to weight loss success!

Shari started the Solstice Health weight loss program in January 2016 and lost 43 lbs and 12.9% of body fat. She saw a friend lose weight successfully on the program, and for some health reasons, thought she would try it. Shari had some consistent joint pain in her hips. A rheumatologist was treating her joint pain with medication. Through her weight loss success, Shari no longer needs her prescription medication and has had significant improvement in her hip pain.

Here are some weight loss program questions and answers Shari shared.

Q. How did you manage to stay “on track” throughout the program?

A. By measuring my weekly successes! I didn’t want to go backwards and sabotage myself. Weighing myself daily helped keep me focused and on track.

Q. What was the most difficult part of the weight loss program for you?

A. Having to temporarily”give up” dairy, basically milk and cheese. I knew that it would be phased back into my eating plan, so that help to stay on track.

Q. What was your favorite Ideal Protein Food?

A. The Vanilla Crispy Squares.

Q. Did this weight loss program fit into your lifestyle?

A. Yes, I have a very busy lifestyle and this program easily fit into my daily routine.

Q. What advice would you share for someone considering the Solstice Health weight loss program?

A. Do it! You will feel so much better! It is so much fun going shopping for new clothes. I love all the positive comments I hear from people who are amazed with the amount of weight I lost!

You can achieve weight loss success like Shari did! It is never too late to improve your health! If you are interested in achieving weight loss success, contact Solstice Health today for a Free weight loss consultation. Check out our FAQ about the Solstice Health Weight Loss Program. Take control of your health today.

At Solstice Health, we offer a comprehensive medical weight loss program that teaches participants how to achieve healthy, realistic goals. The Solstice Weight Loss Program focuses on eating and exercising properly to achieve lifelong, whole-body results. Patients who follow our program as prescribed have a 100% success rate and find a dramatic reduction in the incidence and severity of weight-related health conditions.

Getting Over a Weight Loss Slump

Staying motivated while trying to lose weight can be challenging, especially when you’re in the middle of a weight loss slump. The unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of people trying to lose weight encounter a plateau at some point. And it’s precisely then that many people fall off the weight loss wagon.

If and when you meet your slump, consider these three factors:

How Are You Eating?

Most dieters remember to restrict their caloric intake and eat “clean” when they start their weight loss programs, but then, as time moves on, unhealthy foods and excess calories begin creeping back into their diets. If you started off strong but now find yourself eating lots of “treats” or have stopped eating portion controlled meals of healthy foods, you could simply be consuming too many calories again to stay in weight loss mode.

If you started off with a solid weight loss plan that included a nutritionally adequate and balanced diet, the key is to stick to it and not let your old eating habits creep back in.

How Are Your Workouts?

Some dieters forget that as they lose weight, they’re likely to lose some muscle too, which slows their metabolism a bit. As you lose weight, it’s important to maintain and occasionally increase your level of physical activity to keep your metabolism going strong, otherwise you’ll feel like you’re doing all the work but not seeing much for your efforts.

The three easiest ways that you can increase your physical activity are to increase the amount of time of your workouts, increase the intensity of your workouts, and start integrating physical activity throughout the sedentary parts of your day.

How Are You Sleeping?

Studies have shown that people deprived of an adequate night’s sleep are more likely to eat unhealthy, high-carb foods, eat bigger portions, and don’t feel like they have the energy they need to exercise. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you could be sabotaging your weight loss efforts, so make sure you’re getting the 7 – 9 hours of sleep per night that’s recommended.

At Solstice Health, we offer a comprehensive Milwaukee medical weight loss protocol that teaches participants how to lifelong weight loss. Patients who follow our protocol as prescribed have a 100% success rate and find a dramatic reduction in the incidence and severity of weight-related health conditions.