Soda

If you rely on sodas to get you through the day, it's time to reconsider your options. Coke may get your motor running, but the cons of sipping one easily outweigh the pros. Before you reach for another carbonated beverage, check out a few good reasons you should stopping swigging soda.

• Bone loss: While scientists debate the exact reason, most agree that drinking soda is bad for our bones and deters us from having something healthier like a glass of milk or water. Still, some believe the phosphoric acid in sodas may lead to osteoporosis.
• Hypertension: Keep the doctor away by not drinking a soda a day. Studies show that people who consume sugary and carbonated sodas increase their risk of type 2 diabetes, among other diseases.
• Dental decay: It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that sodas aren't the best drinks for the teeth. The acidic drinks can erode tooth enamel and cause decay. If you must, drink it through a straw.

To see the rest of the list, read more

• From your teeth to your heart, see how soda affects your health — Diet Blog
• Leo D. strikes a funny pose while getting his sweat on — Fit Celeb
• Eat right and protect your skin from the sun — Vitamin G
• A dozen tasty and low-cal ways to cook up eggplant — DailySpark
• The what and when of postworkout nutrition — Active.com
• Stay both safe and fit when exercising while traveling — Fit Bottomed Girls

It seems a spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down. A recent study found sugary beverages can help ease tension at work and make employees less argumentative. The findings note sugar in drinks like sweet tea give employees an energy surge that allows their brains to control impulses and prevent them from reacting too quickly in stressful situations. These findings are contrary to sugar's rep for causing a sugar rush roller coaster that could make people snap or act spontaneously.

So, while sugary drinks aren't the healthiest option for your waistline, they could help your mental health and stability in the office, and may even be a smart choice before a stressful meeting. Have you ever sipped stress away?

Put that lollipop, cupcake, or chocolate-covered whatever down! I have some bad news for those of you born with a major sweet tooth. Aside from the fact that eating too much sugar leads to bigger sized jeans and more trips to the dentist, here's another con to add to the list associated with eating sugar — an increased risk of heart disease. A recent study found that those who ate an average of 46 teaspoons of added sugar each day suffered from higher risk factors that cause heart disease such as higher triglycerides and lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

With so many beverages and prepared foods containing added sugars, Americans are eating way more of the white stuff than they used to. According to the American Heart Association, eating too much is contributing to a plethora of health issues including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Women are urged to cut back and consume no more than 100 calories of added processed sugar each day, which is equal to six teaspoons (25 grams). Do you think you exceed this amount?

Confession: I have a handful of dirty little secrets when it comes to my health and fitness. One of them is that I harbor a serious Diet Coke addiction. I've been known to have a regular two cans on a weekday, partially for the caffeine jolt, and partially because I like the taste (I know, I know).

Recent studies have shown that even diet versions of popular sodas aren't good for you, and can lead to obesity. I've even heard them described as "chemical water with a little caffeine." I recently noticed that after drinking more than one Diet Coke during the day, I've started getting dull headaches. After one too many DC-induced headaches, I switched my second soda of the day to a caffeine-free Diet 7-Up hoping that would stop the problem, but it did just the opposite — the headaches got worse. To see what I think is causing them and what other problems my Diet Coke habit may be causing, read more

If the empty calories, corn syrup, health risks, and possible added tax aren't enough to make you kick the soda habit, how about scare tactics? Soda fountains are contaminated with bacteria, including E. coli. And yes, it's the same deadly E. coli found in ground beef. Grossed out yet? I am.

Biologists in Virginia analyzed soda and water dispensed from 30 different soda fountains in restaurants and cafeterias, finding nearly half of them contaminated with bacteria — and not the good kind. Eleven percent of the soda fountains contained E. coli and 17 percent contained C. meningosepticum, a bacteria strain that is most commonly associated with causing meningitis in infants.

What's more disheartening is that many of the bacteria strains were resistant to the antibiotics used to eradicate them, indicating they are thriving little buggers that have built up a resistance to normal remedies. The biologists say that these thriving communities may contribute to "episodic gastric distress in the general population and could pose a more significant health risk to immunocompromised individuals." More reason than ever to start carrying a reusable water bottle with you at all times.