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What happens when you quit drinking soda cold turkey?

Several negative side effects are associated with soda dependency, and they can manifest themselves when you aren't able to access any soda or have chosen to quit — especially if you quit cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, fatigue, headaches, and even feelings of depression ( 21 , 22 ).

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This article reviews the symptoms and side effects of soda dependency, as well as how to prevent or stop it. If soda cravings turn into dependency, mental and physical health issues can follow. Soda addiction, or dependence on soda, can lead to unwanted weight gain, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, dental issues, weakened bones, heart disease, and depression. Soda is a drink made with potentially habit-forming ingredients like caffeine and sugar, making it uniquely enjoyable and leading to cravings. People can become addicted to a variety of substances and behaviors, including drugs, prescription medications, sex, and smartphone usage. However, soda addiction doesn’t have an official definition, and there’s currently not enough evidence to suggest that it’s a true disorder. For the purposes of this article, soda addiction, or dependence on soda, can be defined as drinking excessive amounts of soda without being able to quit or moderate your intake — even if you experience negative effects. Food addictions — including soda addiction — can have many behaviors in common with drug addiction ( 2 ). Because soda contains several potentially habit-forming substances like caffeine, sodium, and sugar or artificial sweeteners, it’s easier to become dependent on soda than you might think ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ).

Symptoms

Symptoms of soda dependency are mostly related to your brain and nervous system function. For instance, symptoms you may experience include:

strong cravings

a thirst that can only be satisfied by soda

a mental preoccupation with drinking soda

the inability to moderate your soda intake

Another symptom is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as a headache, irritability, depressed mood, or grogginess, when you’re unable to have soda.

Side effects

Soda dependency can have several side effects.

Soda is acidic, and over time, it can discolor your teeth and wear out the enamel, thereby weakening your teeth and making you more prone to cavities and other dental issues ( 7 ). If you drink full-sugar soda instead of diet soda, this problem is magnified because sugar feeds the bacteria that form plaque, thus speeding up the process of tooth decay ( 8 ). The phosphoric acid in dark types of soda may also contribute to osteoporosis, a condition characterized by brittle bones ( 9 ). Full-sugar soda contains about 100 calories — all from sugar — per 8-ounce (240-mL) serving. This means that if you drink large amounts — for instance, 16 ounces (480 mL) with each meal — you could easily drink an extra 600 calories or more per day ( 10 ). Studies have also linked diet soda intake to weight gain. This may be related to the effects of artificial sweeteners on gut health and cravings for sweet foods and drinks ( 11 , 12 ). No matter the cause, heavy sugar intake can cause unwanted weight gain and increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease ( 13 , 14 ). Drinking sugary soda has also been linked to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in both adults and children ( 15 , 16 ).

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How do you break a soda addiction?

If you want to stop drinking so much soda, it basically comes down to four steps, according to the experts: Make Up Your Mind. You have to make up your mind to give it up, notes Jacobson. ... Switch to Diet Sodas. ... Go Caffeine-Free. ... Stock Up on Alternatives.

Soda -- it's everywhere! Even if you wanted to drink something else, you'd be hard-pressed to find it as prominently displayed in vending machines, at fast-food chains, and supermarket checkouts. You might not realize how ubiquitous Coke, Pepsi, and the like are in our society until you try to stop drinking soda. For some people, drinking several sodas a day is a fierce habit. You know drinking soda is a habit when you find yourself going to the grocery store at 10 p.m. because your refrigerator is tapped out, or you feel like having a tantrum when the drive-through attendant tells you the soda machine is broken. If the idea of drinking one token soda a day is unfathomable, you just might have a serious soda habit. Why Stop Drinking So Much Soda? So why would you want to make the effort to kick the soda habit? As the beverage industry out, soft drinks, in and of themselves, aren't necessarily a dietary "don't." "All of our industry's beverages -- including regular or diet soft drinks -- can be part of a healthy way of life when consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced lifestyle," says Tracey Halliday, a spokesperson for the American Beverage Association.

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