{"id":816937,"date":"2026-05-23T13:47:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T13:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/816937\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T13:47:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T13:47:19","slug":"is-it-healthy-do-drink-soda-every-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/816937\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Healthy Do Drink Soda Every Day?"},"content":{"rendered":"

America is a country of soda lovers. Half of the people in the U.S. <\/a>(63% of youth and 49% of adults) drink soda every day. The crackle of the ice cubes as you pour it into a glass, the hiss of the fizz, the tickle in your throat as you take that first sip \u2026 chances are your mouth is watering just at the thought of it.<\/p>\n

Though most people are wise to the fact that soda isn\u2019t exactly a nutrient-filled drink, you may be wondering just how much enjoying a soda every day actually affects your health. If you haven\u2019t thought about it, it\u2019s worth considering. After all, it\u2019s the daily habits that affect us the most. Just how much does drinking soda every day impact health? Keep reading to find out.<\/p>\n

The Short-Term Effect Of Drinking Soda Every Day<\/p>\n

First, it\u2019s helpful to know what soda is made of before getting into how it affects the body. Virtually all sodas are made with<\/a> carbonated water, a sweetener (typically sugar, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweetner<\/a>), phosphoric acid<\/a> (which contributes to the taste of soda and extends its shelf life) and natural flavorings. Some types of soda <\/a>\u2014 including Pepsi, Coca-Cola Classic, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Mello Yello and Dr Pepper \u2014 have caffeine. <\/p>\n

On average, one can or bottle of regular soda contains<\/a> 155 calories, 38 grams of carbs, 37 grams of sugar and 34 milligrams of caffeine<\/a>. To put this in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends<\/a> capping sugar at 25 grams a day for women and 36 grams a day for men \u2014 less than what\u2019s in one can of soda. As for caffeine, the Food and Drug Administation advises<\/a> keeping it under 400 milligrams a day.<\/p>\n

Registered dietitian Sonya Angelone <\/a>says there are a few ways daily soda intake can affect the body right away. First, you\u2019re going to notice a spike in your energy<\/a> from the caffeine and sugar. Angelone explained that caffeine blocks adenosine<\/a>, which is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired. At the same time, the simple carbohydrates in soda from the sugar are absorbed quickly in the bloodstream, which also contributes to the energy boost. But Angelone says that the energy from soda is short-lived and eventually your energy will plummet. <\/p>\n

Dr. Supriya Rao, <\/a>a quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, gastroenterology and obesity medicine, says that there are ways soda affects the gut right away, too. She said some people experience bloating and gas from the carbonation and sugar. In fact, she said that drinking soda every day can disrupt the gastrointestinal system, causing people who drink soda every day to experience abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation regularly. She explained that this is because all the sugar in the soda is feeding the \u201cbad\u201d bacteria in the gut and breaking down the integrity of the gut lining. <\/p>\n

The Long-Term Consequences Of Drinking Soda Every Day<\/p>\n

Short-term, soda can cause your energy to blast off (and then drop) and could give you a stomachache. What about long term? <\/p>\n

Regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Neil Paulvin <\/a>says that if you drink soda every day, you\u2019re likely going to gain weight, specifically belly fat.<\/a> \u201cBelly fat can be dangerous, increasing the likelihood of heart disease<\/a>, metabolic syndrome<\/a>, Type 2 diabetes<\/a> and breast cancer<\/a>. Long-term, not only can a regular soda habit increase the likelihood of those conditions, it\u2019s also been linked to kidney disease<\/a>, high blood pressure<\/a> and high cholesterol<\/a>,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n

\"\u201cSome<\/p>\n

Melissa Lomax Speelman via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cSome studies<\/a> have found that soda drinkers, regardless of whether they drink regular or diet, have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke,\u201d said Dr. Neil Paulvin.<\/p>\n

Paulvin says that drinking soda every day can have detrimental health consequences, particularly for the heart, key info to know considering that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S.<\/a> and it is largely preventable through healthy diet and lifestyle habits. \u201cSome studies<\/a> have found that soda drinkers, regardless of whether they drink regular or diet, have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Drinking soda every day isn\u2019t great for your brain, either. Paulvin says high blood-sugar levels, which soda can cause, lead to inflammation in the brain<\/a>. In fact, regularly drinking soda has been scientifically linked to higher levels of depression<\/a> and a greater likelihood of getting dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Can you bypass all of these health consequences by opting for diet soda? Unfortunately, all three experts say that diet soda has been scientifically linked to gut<\/a>, heart<\/a> and brain<\/a> issues, too. All three say that the artificial sweeteners in these drinks are no better for us than sugar.<\/p>\n

How To Cut Back On Soda<\/p>\n

Feeling inspired to cut back on your soda consumption now? When you\u2019re trying to figure out what to replace it with, Angelone says it\u2019s helpful to think about what it is you like about soda so much. Is it the caffeine boost? If so, a sparkling coffee<\/a> or canned matcha<\/a> could make a good replacement. (Just be sure to eye the ingredient list to make sure it doesn\u2019t contain sugar or artificial sweeteners. Otherwise it defeats the point.) Is it the combination of sweetness and carbonation? Sparkling water with fruit or kombucha<\/a> might be your new go-to. \u201cTry making your own infused water and save money at the grocery store,\u201d Angelone suggested. Cucumber and mint, blueberries and orange, and pomegranates are just a few options to try. <\/a><\/p>\n

Angelone offers up one caveat for using other caffeinated drinks (like matcha or sparkling coffee) to replace your soda habit: Don\u2019t do it if you\u2019re experiencing headaches, which Angelone says are not unusual to get when you quit soda \u2014 or any other drink with caffeine in it, for that matter. To avoid getting headaches, she recommends cutting back on caffeine slowly. \u201cSince caffeine is a stimulant, you need to be careful to avoid other beverages other than sodas that can contain caffeine or similar stimulants, like matcha, green tea, chocolate and mate,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re used to drinking soda every day and then quit cold turkey, Angelone says you might feel more tired because you aren\u2019t getting that hit of caffeine that you\u2019re used to. \u201cEat regularly throughout the day to maintain energy and include between-meal snacks with protein and fiber-rich carbohydrates, like Greek yogurt and berries or nut butter and banana,\u201d she said, adding that it\u2019s also important to drink plenty of water.<\/a> \u201cThis habit may help you feel more alert with more energy while avoiding afternoon slumps.\u201d <\/p>\n

Angelone emphasized that it\u2019s important to replace your soda with something. \u201cSince sodas are a source of both caffeine and fluid, it is important to be sure to replace the fluid with other liquids when cutting back on caffeine. Otherwise you may experience symptoms of dehydration, including fatigue, dizziness, irritability, dry skin and dry mouth,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Transitioning soda from an everyday drink to a \u201csometimes\u201d drink isn\u2019t easy, but making the switch will benefit your health both immediately and down the road.<\/p>\n

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.<\/strong><\/p>\n