The Dangers of Drinking Just 1 Soda a Day

Every afternoon around 3, my friend Anne cracks open a can of soda. It's her "once-a-day indulgence," so she doesn't really sweat it—despite reports of cola's negative effects on health.

She exercises and eats well, so she just assumes she's in the clear. Sound familiar? Unfortunately for Anne—and soda lovers everywhere—new Journal of the American College of Cardiology findings suggests that soda really does live up to its villainous reputation.

According to the report, consuming too many beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or table sugar increases the risk of excess weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

And if that wasn't scary enough, the researchers found that drinking just one or two serving of pop a day can increase the risk of fatal heart disease or heart attack by a whopping 35 percent. No afternoon buzz is worth that!

Still not convinced you should kick the can? Beyond weight loss and a healthier heart, there are plenty of other health benefits of quitting soda and tons of other drinks for weight loss to sip instead. Ditch the cola to reap the better-body benefits.