The Harmful Effects of Pop

Pop, soda, soda-pop, carbonated beverage -- whatever you want to call it..It's loaded with sugar that leads to harmful effects on your body.

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1JZ3MLS-k0
It's about 2 1/2 minutes and really makes you reconsider drinking pop! According to doctors, if you drink 2 bottles of pop per day you will gave 1 pound per week!

The average American consumes 21 tsp of sugar per day, but it is recommended to only eat 7.5 tsp per day! HOLY COW! Huge difference.

Let's be honest -- how many of you look at the grams of sugar in the foods you eat? Most people look at calories and maybe fat, but never look at the sugar or sodium levels. Let's make today's goal be that each food you eat, you look at the sugar count. Do this for the rest of the week..I think it will really open your eyes! Note: Fruit DOES NOT count! You don't need to count any of the sugar in fruit in your daily intake. Fruit is full of natural sugars. A piece of fruit never made anyone fat! When you're wanting something sweet, reach for a piece of fruit for good sugar!

If you are a heavy pop drinker, it is definitely hard to quit cold turkey! Do it slowly. If you drink 3 pops a day, decrease it to 2 pops per day for a week; then 1 pop per day for a week; then 3 pops per week for one week; then 1 pop per week for a week. By then, you should be able to cut the habit. ** For those of you who like the carbonation of soda..try carbonated water with a splash of your favorite juice (ex: cranberry). **For those of you who like the flavor, try a water flavoring packet (Crystal Light, etc) -- personally, my favorite ones are Target's brand flavored drink packets (Cranberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Lemonade, Cherry Limeade, Grape).

I've always enjoyed this poster that someone did as a project..it really shows you how much sugar you are drinking! It makes me sick just looking at it! I hope it opens your eyes too..

Let me know how you're doing in lowering your sugar intake this week!