Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl ad this year is being praised as a celebration of diversity, with its message of, “There’s a Coke for he … and she ... and her ... and me ... and them.”
But I saw it for what it really was—a clever way to market the most health-wrecking substance on the planet.
What they should have said was, “Drink this noxious poison and there will be plenty of disease to go around for he…and she…and her…and me…and them!”
The Christmas commercial was similarly heartfelt, showing a young boy generously giving sodas to people in his community and of course, leaving one for a very grateful Santa.
Well, here’s what the pretty commercials fail to tell you.
Coke or cocaine—what’s the difference?
Soda companies want to create not just an affinity for, but an actual craving for their products. It’s simple--the more you crave, the more you buy.
Chi-ching!
They use the advanced mathematical technique known as “regression analysis” and intricate charts to plot what is called the “bliss point”—the precise amount of sugar that will put you on Cloud 9 with every sip.
Companies also use brain scans to study how we react neurologically to sugar. They’ve discovered that the brain lights up for sugar in the exact same way it does for cocaine!
Your taste buds are being manipulated too. Scientists have created taste enhancers that amplify the sweetness of sugar up to 200 times its natural strength.
Deadly bliss
Unfortunately, while you’re floating around on Cloud 9 in a blissful addicted-to-soda state, here is what the sugar in soda is doing inside of you:
Type 2 diabetes and obesity
Drinking soda is directly associated with Type 2 diabetes and obesity--you can thank the 10 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup in each can for that.
This is especially alarming considering that 6 out of 10 kids and 5 out of 10 adults drink at least one soda a day…and many people drink multiple cans a day!
So it’s no wonder 2 out of 3 of us are overweight or obese, and rates of Type 2 diabetes are off the charts.
Heart disease and cancer
Sugar is a very inflammatory substance and high blood levels of it can stir up inflammation in your arteries and increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
A Japanese study of 800,000 people showed that that the more money people spent on soda, the more likely they were to suffer from heart attacks.
And according to research by the Harvard School of Public Health, men who drink just one can of soda per day have a 20 percent higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack than those who don’t drink soda.
Plus sugar FEEDS cancer cells. Sugar sweetened beverages are said to cause an estimated 6,000 cancer deaths per year, although I suspect the real number is actually higher.
Kidney damage
When sugar causes inflammation in the arteries servicing your kidneys, damage to the organs can result—it’s very similar to the same process that takes place with diabetics.
In addition, acid of any kind impacts your kidneys. It’s their job to filter acid wastes out of your bloodstream and create urine to excrete them, and the more you subject your kidneys to the phosphoric acid barrage of soda, the more stressed they become.
Soda is far and away the most acidic beverage known to man.
Leeching minerals
Your body chips away at and uses up its own stores of alkaline minerals to buffer the acid from soda in your bloodstream. Over time this can cause deficiency conditions like osteoporosis, brittle bones that fracture easily, weak muscles and tooth decay.
As a matter of fact, dentists have a title for the boatloads of cavities they see in kids who drink a lot of Mountain Dew—they call it “Mountain Dew Mouth.”
The best change you could make
If you want to make one change that is going to have a HUGE impact on your health and weight, please, PLEASE give up soda.
Healthier alternatives include iced tea, water or plain seltzer--add a splash of fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice for flavor if desired.
If you find you can’t swear off soda “cold turkey” then at least gradually substitute a healthier beverage for one soda a day and go from there. Chances are excellent you’ll feel the difference (and see it in your waistline) and be inspired to fully make the change.
Do NOT make the mistake of thinking diet sodas are any better! They are just as acidic as regular soda, plus the aspartame and sucralose are nothing but other forms of poison that ruin your health.
Help your gut heal too
If you've been a soda lover for a while, it’s very likely that the sugar has caused some major imbalance in your gut microbiome...to the point where harmful bacteria can outnumber the beneficial ones.
Not only can this cause gas and bloating, but it can also weaken your immune system functioning!
In addition to avoiding soda, the best way to help your gut recover from “soda damage” is to help repopulate your army of helpful bacteria with a top-quality probiotic supplement like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.
Super Shield’s full-spectrum formula of 13 strains of potent bacteria are ready and eager to help encourage a more balanced microbiome, strengthen your gut wall, and support more sound digestion and immune function!
Don’t let soda companies fool you with their fancy commercials and make you an addict. Take the bull by the horns and say NO to soda and YES to a healthier, slimmer you!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: Just a reminder—the Heal Yourself Now Summit starts tomorrow, February 28th!
This summit is geared toward helping you achieve profound healing, personal transformation, and finally take control of your health!
It brings together 22 experts in healing (including me!) to provide support, tools, techniques, resources, and healing to people suffering from chronic conditions. You’ll also get bonus meditations to connect with your inner healing capacity!
Sign up here to get access to this amazing summit that will change your life!
