Soft drinks have become the beverage of choice for many people, replacing healthier drinks such as water and milk. People in different parts of the country refer to soft drinks with many different names, including soda, pop or cola. Although they are pleasing to the palate, drinking soft drinks on a regular basis poses many disadvantages.
Water makes up approximately 60 percent of your total body weight. Each day you lose water through urination, breathing and sweating. The lost water must be replaced to keep your body functioning. Although the recommended fluid intake varies based on your health, your level of activity and where you live, doctors generally recommend adults drink 8 to 9 cups a day, according to MayoClinic.com. Replacing water with soft drinks fails to provide adequate hydration because the high sugar content and caffeine in soft drinks promote dehydration.
Regular soft drinks, meaning those not sold as diet soft drinks, contain significant amounts of sugar. One can of cola contains 39 g of sugar which equals 3.3 tbsp. of sugar, according to Wichita State University. Consuming foods containing so much added sugar contributes to increased blood glucose levels, a condition that increases the risk of developing diabetes and provides additional calories.