We all try to watch what we eat, but how many of us really think about what we drink?

According to the University of North Carolina, if you substituted water instead of that latte or soda, you could cut 450 calories per day out of your diet. This could help you lose about 1 pound of fat per week! 

Why is diet soda not a good idea if we can't drink normal sweetened soda?

Well, let's cover a few good points: 

1. Just because diet soda is lower in calories doesn't mean you won't gain weight:

New research suggests that consuming sugar or artificially sweetened beverages may lead to cravings sweetness overall.  We then crave the bad carbs like cereal, bread, dessert. For those of you who that have problems resisting your cravings for carbs, it is a hard one to beat.  When your body is not filled with the nutrients it needs, you will never be satisfied and will constantly be hungry.  When you eat and drink in healthy, your body runs better, has more energy and you crave less.

2. Drinking diet beverages all day will prevent you from drinking water or other good liquids your body needs to thrive:

 Diet soda is 100 percent nutrition-free. One diet soda a day is okay, but if you're downing five or six cans, that means you're limiting your intake of healthy beverages. 

3. Aspartame is bad:

Aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar. There have been animal studies which have shown evidence of a linkage to brain tumors and lymphoma. Aspartame often causes dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, memory problems and moodiness. 

Water is the best bet for keeping hydrated and staying healthy.  If you don't like the taste of water, add a lemon, lime, orange or even a cucumber to add a little flavor.  Your palate will change pretty quickly and you will start craving what your body really needs.  H2O. You may think you are doing something more healthy instead of drinking a high calorie beverage but studies have shown that you eat more and crave more.

Understanding what your body needs is important for total health. Dr. Amie Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF can help you find new ways of staying out of pain and remaining healthy.  Contact our San Francisco, CA Chiropractic office or San Carlos, CA chiropractic office today.