Soda isn’t great for us. That’s not breaking news. Sugars and artificial flavors lack quality nutrition. So, many people reach for diet soda. But that’s not so healthy either. Recent research found that even just one can of diet soda can contribute to liver disease. Regular soda, too.
Yet, many Americans are addicted to fizzy drinks. And for those who wish to stop, cutting soda cold-turkey might not be a good idea — as some USA TODAY journalists recently learned when we tried it.
“People are struggling to stop even though they really want to,” explains Ashley Gearhardt, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. “You go through withdrawal."
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When in doubt, Gearhardt says use your common sense: What is the lowest-sugar option you have at any place and time?
And when stopping soda has you feeling down, Gearhardt says to remember this is about prioritizing wellbeing. It’s not “quitting,” she says, it’s “getting healthier.”
Read the complete article in Detroit Free Press
