If you are addicted to soda, only occasionally drink one, or use the vending machine at work as a crutch to get through your afternoons, then I know how you feel. It took me a long time and many attempts to finally give soda up for good. At the bottom of this post you will find a toolbox of methods that anyone can use to completely eliminate this beverage from your life. Before you discover the tools, here are some reasons to never drink soda again.

Diet Soda

Some of the big brand soda companies replaced aspartame (artificial sweetener) in their diet soda products when consumers became aware of the harmful effects of aspartame. The taste of the soda changed, people didn’t like the taste change, and now aspartame is BACK in diet soda products. If you experience any of the symptoms below, and drink diet soda, then check out the toolbox and get this poison out of your life.

“A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as part of aspartame dangers are:

Headaches/migraines, Dizziness, Seizures, Nausea, Numbness, Muscle spasms, Weight gain, Rashes, Depression, Fatigue, Irritability, Tachycardia, Insomnia, Vision problems, Hearing loss, Heart palpitations, Breathing difficulties, Anxiety attacks, Slurred speech, Loss of taste, Tinnitus, Vertigo, Memory loss, and Joint pain.”- Aspartame: By Far the Most Dangerous Substance Added to Most Foods Today

Regular Soda:

“The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization recommend limiting your daily added sugar intake to 9 teaspoons (38 grams) for men, and 6 teaspoons (25 grams) for women. The limits for children range from 3 to 6 teaspoons (12- 25 grams) per day, depending on age.” – Why Cutting Down on Sugar Might Be the Best Health Insurance Available

One can of Coca Cola contains 39 g of sugar.

One can of Mountain Dew contains 46 g of sugar.

Why we are Addicted to Sugar and how it Affects our Health

Tool Box for Quitting Soda:

*Axio*

This is a brain performance product that gives you long-lasting energy without the crash from sugary beverages and snacks. These packets are available with caffeine or Decaf. I only recently learned about these, and I wish I had them when I was trying to quit drinking soda. You empty the packets into a water bottle, shake it up, and drink. To learn more and buy your own, CLICK HERE.

*Set boundaries for yourself*

One of my friends said she stopped buying soda at the grocery store. Keeping it out of the house prevented her from drinking it at home. Personally I had a habit of buying soda at convenience stores while I was driving all over Maine, and eventually had to make it a rule for myself that I wouldn’t buy any drinks if I stop for gas. I started bringing water with me instead, from home.

*Coffee*

Enough said.

*Keep physical reminders for yourself why you’re quitting*

Buy a box of sugar cubes. Look up how much sugar (in grams) your favorite soda contains. Each sugar cube= 4g. For example a 16 oz bottle of coke contains 52 g of sugar / 4 = 13 cubes of sugar. Put the cubes in a bag and keep them in a place that will remind you why you want to give up your soda. If diet soda is your vice, make a list of symptoms listed above tied to aspartame and keep the list in your wallet/purse.