I’ll be the first to tell you that I love Mountain Dew. No, not the diet version, or the Mountain Blast version, or any other version other than the original. Give me the glow-in-the-dark green libation along with the mythical stories of causing testicular shrinkage and premature baldness. For loving this drink so much, I probably have it about once a year, twice if I decide to go crazy and splurge.
The reason why I don’t drink soft drinks is because they are plain awful for you. They are loaded with sugar, or loaded with artificial sweeteners. The phosphoric and citric acid in a can will eat the paint off of a house, unclog a drain, and burn a hole in your stomach. With that said, some people believe that the diet versions of the soft drinks are healthier. They contain lots of flavor and no calories. They must be good for you, right? Wrong.
Plastic doesn’t have calories for you. You don’t eat that, right? It’s indigestible. These artificial sweeteners must be indigestible as well, at least partially, but apparently no one has done any serious study on the negative effects of artificial sweeteners on the human body. (I mean no study that isn’t biased one way or the other.) The long term effects of these non-natural sweeteners has not been proven to harm the body…because there is no significant research being done. I’ve seen patients remove every food and drink containing artificial sweeteners from their diet and notice a significant improvement in overall feeling of wellness.
Let’s get back to the story here. The United States is the world’s largest consumer of soft drinks. We are also the fattest country in the world marked by obesity. This land of excess spends over $58 Billion in soft drinks annually. Our consumption of soft drinks is higher than any other country by more than 30% and we are one of the most unhealthy. Is there a correlation? I feel that there is, especially when the average American is consuming over 200 liters of carbonated beverages a year. Soft drinks are a business and no soft drink manufacturer is going to tell you that their product can be harmful to the body.
What I am trying to say here is that all soft drinks should be consumed in moderation. If soft drinks make up some part of your daily intake of fluids, then maybe it’s time to weed it out of your system. You don’t have to take it completely out of your diet. Try reducing soft drinks to a once a week activity and gradually work it out to once a month, at most. If you’re unhealthy or overweight, or if you are just suffering from: strange aches and pains, headaches, irritability, acid regurgitation, PMS, insomnia, hormonal imbalance, skin disorders, abdominal pain, etc., try to remove the soft drinks in your life. Some of these health issues may dissipate or completely disappear altogether. Replace the soft drinks with water, tea, or another beverage such as a low sugar fruit juice. Try it for 2 months and see what your body says. You may find that the healthier you is happier without them.
August Point Wellness 
I totally agree with your article. There is no way that soda can be good for you. I rarely if ever drink it anymore and if I do, it’s usually a few sips then I’m done. Water, fresh squeezed juice, and tea are the way to go.
The one thing that bothers me though is that soda is always available everywhere you go and sometimes it’s the only drink available (i just read an article about schools and lack of water provided during lunches, soda and juice are the norm) I see so many people just give in and drink the stuff. It’s interesting to that the diet sodas are usuall the first to go, like somehow they are a healthier choice.