9 Disturbing Side Effects of Soda

Need a reason to break your soda addiction? We've got 9, and they're not pretty.


Soda's Bittersweet Side Effects
If you've been reading health magazines and websites for any length of time, you've read a litany of reasons why soda is bad for you. It's nothing but sugar water. It's devoid of any nutritional value. It leads to obesity and diabetes. But we've dug up nine other disturbing facts about what soda does to your body, whether it's the side effects of sucralose and other artificial sweeteners or ingredients that can lead to memory loss. Keep reading to find out all nine reasons you should kick soda to the curb.


Weird Fat in Weird Places
In the latest bad news for the soda industry, Danish researchers discovered that drinking non-diet soda leads to dramatic increases in fat buildup around your liver and your skeletal muscles, both of which can contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes. The study revealed that people who drank a regular soda every day for six months saw a 132 to 142 percent increase in liver fat, a 117 to 221 percent jump in skeletal fat, and about a 30 percent increase in both triglyceride blood fats and other organ fat. Their consumption also led to an 11 percent increase in cholesterol, compared with the people who drank other beverages such as water or milk.


Diet-Soda Belly
It's not surprising that drinking all the sugar in sodas would cause weight gain, but what is surprising is that even diet soda will pack on the pounds: Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center monitored 475 adults for 10 years, and found that those who drank diet soda had a 70 percent increase in waist circumference over the 10-year study, compared with those who didn't drink any soda. Those who drank more than two diet sodas per day saw a 500 percent waist expansion! A separate study the same researchers conducted on mice suggested that it was the aspartame, which raised blood glucose levels, that caused the weight gain; when your liver encounters too much glucose, the excess is converted to body fat. 


Caramel Cancer-Causers
In 2011, the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the artificial caramel coloring used to make Coke, Pepsi, and other colas brown. The reason: Two contaminants in the coloring, 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, have been found to cause cancer in animals, a threat the group says is unnecessary, considering that the coloring is purely cosmetic. According to California's strict Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer, just 16 micrograms per person per day of 4-methylimidazole is enough to pose a cancer threat, and most popular brown colas, both diet and regular, contain 200 micrograms per 20-ounce bottle.  


Accelerated Aging
Diet or regular, all colas contain phosphates, or phosphoric acid, a weak acid that gives colas their tangy flavor and improves their shelf life. Although it exists in many whole foods, such as meat, dairy, and nuts, too much phosphoric acid can lead to heart and kidney problems, muscle loss, and osteoporosis, and one study suggests it could trigger accelerated aging. The study, published in a 2010 issue of the FASEB Journal, found that the excessive phosphate levels found in sodas caused lab rats to die a full five weeks earlier than the rats whose diets had more normal phosphate levels—a disturbing trend considering that soda manufacturers have been increasing the levels of phosphoric acid in their products over the past few decades.


Water Pollution
The artificial sweeteners used in diet sodas don't break down in our bodies, nor do wastewater-treatment plants catch them before they enter waterways, researchers have found. In 2009, Swiss scientists tested water samples from wastewater-treatment plants, rivers and lakes in Switzerland and detected levels of acesulfame K, sucralose, and saccharin, all of which are, or have been, used in diet sodas. A recent test of 19 municipal water supplies in the U.S. revealed the presence of sucralose in every one. It's not clear yet what these low levels are doing to people, but past research has found that sucralose in rivers and lakes interferes with some organisms' feeding habits. 


Mountain Dew Mind
Dentists have a name for the condition they see in kids who drink too much Mountain Dew. They wind up with a "Mountain Dew Mouth," full of cavities caused by the drink's excessive sugar levels. "Mountain Dew Mind" may be the next medical condition that gets named after the stuff. An ingredient called brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, added to prevent the flavoring from separating from the drink, is an industrial chemical used as a flame retardant in plastics. Also found in other citrus-based soft drinks and sports drinks, the chemical has been known to cause memory loss and nerve disorders when consumed in large quantities. Researchers also suspect that, like brominated flame retardants used in furniture foam, the chemical builds up in body fat, possibly causing behavioral problems, infertility, and lesions on heart muscles over time. 


Whacked-Out Hormones
It's not just the soda that's causing all the problems. Nearly all aluminum soda cans are lined with an epoxy resin called bisphenol A (BPA), used to keep the acids in soda from reacting with the metal. BPA is known to interfere with hormones, and has been linked to everything from infertility to obesity and diabetes and some forms of reproductive cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have pegged soda cans, along with restaurant, school, and fast-food meals, as a major source of exposure to the chemical. And while Pepsi and Coke are currently locked in a battle to see which company can be the first to develop a 100 percent plant-based-plastic bottle—which they're touting as "BPA free"—neither company is willing to switch to BPA-free aluminum cans. 


Dead Birds
Before you switch from cans to bottles, though, take a look at the photographs of Chris Jordan, an environmentalist and photographer who visited the Midway Atoll area in 2009. It's close to the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch," a mass of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean where things like soda caps (which often aren't recycled) and plastic fish netting float just beneath the surface of the water. Birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife mistake the debris for food and eat large quantities of the plastic, which they are unable to digest. Ultimately, the plastic causes them to starve to death. It's estimated that thousands of animals die this way every year. 


Unknown Side Effects of GMOs
Take a look at the ingredients list for any soda and chances are most of those ingredients are derived from corn. As much as 88 percent of the corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified to resist toxic pesticides or engineered to create pesticides within the plant itself. Thanks to lax government safety regulations, and tight corporate control over who gets to test these proprietary seeds, there are no human studies that can prove or disprove whether these crops are safe. Independent scientists have found that, in animals, genetically modified crops, or GMOs, are linked to digestive tract damage, accelerated aging, and even infertility. Most recently, scientists in France found that rats fed GMO corn for their entire two-year lifespan developed mammary tumors and died earlier than rats that ate non-GMO corn their entire lives. 

Best & Worst Foods for Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder disease is a serious condition—over half a million gallbladders are removed annually in the U.S. If you suspect that you are having a gallbladder attack and are in severe gallbladder pain, especially if you also have a fever, consult your doctor immediately or go straight to the emergency room. This post may serve to help you know the symptoms in advance and take precautions so a gallbladder attack might be avoided.

Remember no one, neither an MD nor a holistic practitioner, ever cures us of anything. Natural therapies simply provide the building blocks to help the body heal itself. Western medicine is great for emergencies, however, it falls short when it comes to chronic disease as it does not offer a forensic look at what led to the disease state in the first place, such as improper diet and nutritional deficiencies, unhealthy choices, such as smoking and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs and a stressful lifestyle.

What we find in western medicine is a one size fits all model and its goal is to make symptoms go away. This is kind of like pulling the fuse when the engine warning light goes off. We don’t really want to just make symptoms go away, we want to get to the root or underlying cause of our “dis-ease” state.

With gallbladder disease, both western medicine and holistic alternatives can come together and provide the tools for actual healing. If a gallbladder removal surgery can be avoided by making some changes, for example in your diet, wouldn’t that be the best possible outcome? Or what if symptoms persist after gallbladder removal, which often happens? This is a clear sign that the underlying cause of problem has not been resolved.

What Exactly is a Gallbladder?

The gallbladder is a sac that is approximately 4 inches and has a muscular wall.  It serves as a reservoir to hold a greenish fluid called bile. When the gallbladder receives the signal from a hormone known as cholecystokinin which indicates that bile is needed to aid in the digestion of fatty foods, the gallbladder secretes the bile into the small intestines.  Not only does bile aid in the digestion of fatty foods, it helps to ensure that fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K can be absorbed through the wall of the intestines into the bloodstream where they can travel anywhere in the body to where they are most needed.

What is Gallbladder Disease?

Gallbladder disease is the term used to describe a range of gallbladder conditions, which are largely the result of inflammation or irritation of the gallbladder walls.  Sometimes the inflammation is the result of gallstones or polyps.  Because gallstones may be involved, the terms gallbladder disease and gallstones are often used interchangeably, although gallstones are more of a symptom of gallbladder disease and it isn’t necessary to have gallstones to have gallbladder disease.

Warning Signs that You Might Be Suffering from Gallbladder Disease 

While not everyone experiences symptoms of gallbladder disease, many people experience the following warning signs:

Abdominal Pain (right-sided)
Bloating
Burping, Belching, or Flatulence, especially after a meal
Constipation or Diarrhea
Headaches over the Eyes (particularly at night)
Indigestion
Nausea
Pain after eating fatty foods
Upper Back Pain (right sided)
Vomiting

Signs of a Gallbladder Attack Caused by Gallstones

Sometimes bile buildup or gallstones can cause a duct blockage, which is a serious condition that needs immediate medical care.  The signs include:

Severe abdominal pain on the right side or in the back that lasts for days
Chills
Fever
Loss of Appetite
Nausea or Vomiting
Pain Under the Shoulder Blade or Breastbone

If you are having the above symptoms that are constant and acute, you should immediately go to the emergency room at your local hospital, since a gallbladder attack caused by gallstones can be serious.

Who is at Risk of of Gallbladder Disease?

While the reason isn’t clear, women tend to be more vulnerable to gallbladder disease and gallstones than men; however, these conditions can still affect men. To help in the prevention and treatment of the condition, it is important to know the warning signs.

The diagnostic tool of choice for gallbladder disease is usually an ultrasound scan. Ask your doctor for a copy of the scan results so you can get a second opinion. You may want to explain to your doctor that you wish to use nutrition and nutritional supplementation as adjunct therapy and would like your progress monitored carefully. He or she might welcome learning about this. One of my own MDs was so impressed with Oriental Medicine and acupuncture that he took two years off from his own practice to become trained in it and now incorporates it into his practice. His entire paradigm shifted as a result of this exploration.

With your medical diagnosis in hand and blessing from your doctor, the first and perhaps most important rule to follow from now on is to eat a variety of fresh organic, raw and lightly steamed green vegetables, good fats (like avocados) and exclude sugars, and all processed and refined foods. It was most likely food choices that caused the gallbladder dis-ease in the first place.

Foods to Avoid for General Gallbladder Disease:

• Eggs (Research showed that eggs have caused symptoms in up to 95 percent of patients. We don’t know if the eggs used in this research were factory-farmed or the better choice of free range and organic, but this is often the problem with clinical trials and tests.  )
• Pork
• Fowl (turkey, chicken and again we assume the culprits are factory farmed, but again let’s err on the side of caution and avoid these foods for now)
• Dairy (pasteurized) milk, cheese and cream.
• Gluten and grains in general such as wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, etc.
• Corn
• Coffee, regular or decaf
• Oranges, grapefruit
• Nuts
• Trans fats, Hydrogenated, partially-hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils
• Margarine
• Fried Foods
• Saturated fats (it’s best to also avoid coconut oil since gallbladder disease is a sign that the gallbladder is struggling to keep up with the fat levels in the diet—even healthy ones)
• Red meats
• Spicy foods
• Chocolate
• Ice cream
• Black tea
• Alcohol, beer, wine, liqueur
• Fruit juice
• Carbonated water
• Tap water
• Turnips
• Cabbage, cauliflower
• Colas and all sodas
• Oats (for some people)
• Avoid all artificial sweeteners, sugar, preservatives, refined and bleached foods (like white flour)
• Avoid smoking as it can exacerbate the symptoms
• Avoid all possible food allergens

Are there foods good for our gallbladder? GallbladderAttack.com tell us that these dietary suggestions are not the food bible because we are all so different. You can try the foods on the next list, one a time, to determine what you can tolerate. Then take a look at the list above and experiment cautiously with what you may be able to introduce again without having a relapse.

Foods to try if you have gallbladder disease:

Organic and locally grown foods from the list below are wonderful raw or lightly steamed, especially the green vegetables. Don’t forget, we must include good fats (like avocados) too.

• Beets
• Cucumbers
• Green beans – not the same as dried beans
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Avocados
• Vinegars – all types, but apple cider vinegar is best since it contains malic acid, which may help break down gallstones, if they are present.
• Garlic and onions help with liver cleansing but not processed types like flakes or powder. But some people have trouble digesting them so pay attention to what your own body tells you!
• Shallots
• Tomatoes
• Cold water fish – salmon, trout (still in moderation to avoid excessive amounts of fat)
• Lemons (lemon juice in the morning with hot water helps to clean the liver)
• Grapes
• Apples, berries, papaya, pears
• Oils like flax or hemp should be used in minimal amounts for salad dressing with fresh lemon juice or vinegar.
• Vegetable juices – beet and cucumber are especially helpful to gallbladder. You can add other green vegetables like swiss chard, dandelion greens, beet greens, celery, carrots, (avoid the cabbage family); however, pay attention to how you feel after eating bitter greens like dandelion leaves since they stimulate the release of bile.
• Use baby mixed organic greens for salads just avoid too many bitter greens for now
• Soluble and insoluble fiber found in fruits and vegetables are also beneficial.

When gallbladder disease is suspected or has been confirmed, again it is critical to avoid fried foods, fatty foods and particular types of fats like trans fats, hydrogenated fats, partially-hydrogenated fats (read your labels) and saturated fats.

Gallbladder Healing Herbs

Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

Globe artichoke is often used by herbalists in the treatment of gallbladder disease and gallstones. It is typically found in capsule form, with doses ranging from 300 to 500 mg. Consult the package of the product you choose to determine the exact dosage.

Parsley (Petroselinum sativum)

While we often think of parsley as a garnish, it has been used by our ancestors in the treatment of gallstones.  You can add more fresh parsley to your diet through salads like tabbouleh or as an addition to your favorite fresh juice.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Botanist and author of The Green Pharmacy recommends making a tea with peppermint as an aid in the elimination of gallstones.  He advises using peppermint along with a teaspoon of cardamom and brewing these herbs as a tea, drinking frequently. 

8 Things You Shouldn’t Do Before Bed

Oh, the power of a good night’s sleep. A whole gamut of benefits can come from getting enough rest, but for many of us, hitting the sack can be challenging. There’s plenty of advice out there about what to do to get to sleep — but what about what not to do?

Here are eight pre-bedtime activities that could be hurting your chance at a good night’s sleep. 

1. Exercise

No, you don’t get to ditch your yoga mat or running shoes all together. Exercise is a vital activity for your health—and can actually contribute to getting better quality sleep. The problem, though, is that exercising within three hours of bedtime can raise your body temperature, and make dozing off more difficult. Breaking a sweat, then, is best left for earlier in the day. 

2. Watch TV or surf the web 

Studies have shown that pre-slumber screen time can impede your body’s ability to fall asleep. The likely culprit? Well, the bright lights of these screens can hinder the development of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. So close that laptop and turn off that TV about an hour before bed.

3. Take a hot shower or bath

Like exercise, hot showers and baths can actually help you fall asleep. The problem, however, comes when taking one too close to the time you plan on hitting the sack. Being overheated or sweating can make it difficult to sleep. Let your body cool down before heading off to bed.  

4. Drink too many fluids

Caffeine and alcohol both make it difficult to get a good night’s rest. But drinking a lot ofany liquid within the last hour or two before you go to bed will lead to those dreaded late night bathroom trips—and further disrupt your slumber. You shouldn’t go to bed thirsty, however, as you’ll likely wake up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. Balance is key here. 

5. Work

Whatever the work or school-related issue, it can certainly wait until morning. Focusing on work stimulates your brain and can cause unneeded stress—pretty much the opposite of what you want to feel if you’re trying to fall asleep!

6. Read engrossing stories

You’re reading a really interesting novel and you tell yourself, “Oh, just one more page!” Suddenly, it’s 2 a.m. and you have to be awake in four hours. Yep, reading a captivating book, essay or novel before bed will make it difficult to get to sleep. Perhaps you can remedy the problem by finding the most boring thing imaginable to read?! 

7. Cuddle with your pets

As a child, I always wanted my beloved pet chihuahua to sleep in my twin bed. And then came the reality: it’s amazing how much space a 6 pound creature can take up—and how grumpy chihuahuas can be when you disturb their slumber. The point is, sleeping with a pet in your bed can seriously disturb your sleep. 

8. Have serious conversations

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “don’t go to bed angry.” As it turns out, it’s totally accurate! Research has shown that sleeping directly after a fight or traumatic experience will effectively preserve your emotions until you awaken. The human body is averse to falling asleep in dangerous situations — it’s a defense mechanism. Thus, you’ll have a much harder time falling asleep after a big blowout. It’s best to resolve conflicts before you hit the sack.

How A Face Of A Serial Offender Got Changed Progressively In 7 Years Due To Tattoos (5 pics)

Eight mugshots of 25-year-old Robert Hardister, from Florida, US reveal his ever-changing face that he has been covering with tattoos for 7 years. His first mugshot was taken when he was 18 years old in 2009 and his latest snap shows there is little room for anymore work.

The Photo Of This Random Hawk Looking All Badass Triggered A Major Photoshop Battle (40 pics)

Animal enthusiast Clint Ralph, 53, captured this epic picture of a jackal hawk in South Africa. The bird looked all badass walking around like human looking for food. After the pic with the hawk appeared online, the Photoshop was a must.

8 Surprising Reasons Your Hair is Falling Out

In biblical times, a woman’s hair was considered her crowning glory. And today, though the era has certainly changed, we spend billions collectively to ensure that our coifs are cut and curled to perfection. It can be devastating, then, for a woman to lose her hair, and while we may associate hair loss to aging women or chemotherapy patients, those instances don’t account for every case.

Hair loss can strike all women from all ethnicities and age groups. So if you’ve been noticing a few too many strands in your hairbrush lately, check this list of eight possible causes that may totally surprise you.

1. Pregnancy

We all know that the process of having a baby can be pretty tough on a woman’s body, but growing that cute little fetus can also wreak havoc on your hair. “When a woman is pregnant, the body focuses primarily on nurturing the fetus,” says Dr. Tamim Hamid, founder and inventor of Theradome, the only FDA-approved, over the counter hair rejuvenation helmet. “The demand for blood supply and nutrients can create challenges to the body’s limited resources. Hair is not necessary for survival so it’s often a victim of the process.”

To minimize hair loss while pregnant, Hamid encourages women to take prenatal vitamins regularly and to maintain a healthy immune system.

2. Thyroid imbalances

You may be jealous of your co-worker who can eat a 5-pound bag of M&Ms daily and never gain an ounce, but her uber-fast metabolism may actually mean trouble for her follicles. “An overactive thyroid gland results in too much production of the hormone thyroxine and can accelerate your body’s metabolism significantly, Hamid explains. “An overly fast metabolism consumes nutrients at a rapid rate, placing stress on the body. Since hair isn’t critical to survival, it is often robbed of the nutrients it needs to maintain healthy growth.”

Conversely, adds Hamid, an under-active thyroid can also put stress on the body, as nutrient overload and a lethargic lifestyle can impair hair growth.

3. Female pattern baldness 

So you thought only men suffered receding hairlines at the expense of some evil, hair-destroying gene? Think again. “Women are often genetically pre-disposed to female-pattern baldness, and once established it is incredibly difficult to break,” says Lucinda Ellery, a hair restoration specialist. “It typically remains in the crown area but can spread to the hair above the ears. The visibility depends on the structure of the hair, thick or fine.”

As if news of this genetic torture weren’t bad enough, Ellery also adds that female-pattern baldness is no longer exclusive to older women. “We live in a toxic world and have far more stresses and strains on women than in the past, such as work and family responsibilities,” she says.

4. Trichotillomania

Ever heard a woman say she was dealing with something so overwhelming that she wanted to pull her hair out? Well, some women aren’t kidding. “Trichotillomania (TTM) can start with simply pulling out an eyelash, then migrating to eyebrows and eventually the scalp or any part of the body,” Ellery explains. “The pulling sensation is often accompanied by a rush of pleasure, peace and harmony and is often a prelude to a trance-like meditative state.”

According to Ellery, TTM is often triggered in childhood and can be caused by a variety of stressors, from the death of a parent to losing a goldfish. Typically, people are unaware of their actions, but as time passes and a habit forms, they are no longer unable to resist the pulling. A behavioral analysis and psychotherapy are usually the best treatment.

5. Poor diet

As it turns out, all those greasy French fries and pints of ice cream you’ve been gorging on are impacting more than your dress size. Sally Pansing Kravich, a holistic nutritionist and author of Vibrant Living, says that diet and nutrient intake has a significant role on hair growth – of lack thereof.

Kravich’s “do not eat” list includes foods containing artificial color and dyes, artificial sweeteners and any preservatives; most packaged foods; and sodas. Meanwhile, she urges clients to load up on healthy fats, probiotics, whole grains and lots of fresh veggies. Supplements are recommended only in the case of an inadequate diet.

“I’ve had male and female clients who were losing their hair – with various health conditions, stress factors and diets,” says Kravich. “All improved their hair either fully or partially by following these suggestions.”

6. Hairstyling

“Wearing your hair in the same type of style or ponytail repeatedly can lead to traction alopecia, which is hair loss caused by a pulling effect,” explains Ellery. This problem is often common with African American women who wear their hair in braids, or others with hair extensions. And while the urge may be to remedy the problem by discontinuing any handling of the hair, that actually has an opposite effect.

“Often women stop to washing and/or combing or brushing their hair when they notice it getting finer, but that worsens the problem as hair needs to be clean and aerated to grow healthily,” Ellery adds.

7. Trauma or shock

Recovering from something as serious as a car accident or death in the family is difficult enough emotionally, throw in the fact that it may also cause your hair to fall out and things get especially worrisome. Telegenic effluvium is the medical term for hair loss due to trauma or shock, and it can be triggered by anything from a heart attack or other major illness, to the simple birth of a baby.

“With this condition, more hairs are found on the shower floor or on the person’s shoulders,” says Dr. Fayne Frey, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “As hairs ‘fall asleep,’ they fall out, causing a diffuse, temporary thinning of scalp hair. The process commonly occurs two to three months after the trauma.”

8. Autoimmune disease

Officially, an autoimmune disease is any illness that develops when your immune system recognizes healthy cells as foreign invaders and begins to attack them. It is estimated that up to 50 million Americans suffer from some type of autoimmune disease – including celiac disease and psoriasis – and many can lead to hair loss.

“Several processes fall under autoimmune hair loss,” says Frey. “Alopecia areas causes a patchy balding of the scalp hairs. There is no particular blood test, but thyroid dysfunction can be associated with it. Total hair loss of the scalp is called alopecia totalis, and total loss of body hair due to the same process is called alopecia universalis. There is no way to tell which form a person will develop but, fortunately, the latter two forms are fairly uncommon.

“Lupus is another autoimmune disease which may cause hair thinning. A scarring form called discoid lupus causes a patchy scarring and often permanent, inflammatory hair loss. Although there is a blood test for systemic lupus (ANA), this test may be negative in individuals with discoid lupus.”