Why Buy Expensive, Sugary Smoothies; Make Your Own!

Back when I was a university student, I'd often drink sugary smoothies marketed towards the "healthy lifestyle crowd". This is nothing more than marketing; having one of these smoothies everyday is not healthy for your body or for your finances either. Each 20 oz. drink at the smoothie shop on campus (I won't name names since I'm not trying to get sued here) cost about $5, had a whopping 500 calories, and contained loads of sugar!

Instead of taking in all of the sugar and draining my wallet, I decided to buy a blender and start making my own smoothies. At first, this may seem more expensive due to the costs of buying a blender and ingredients, but in the long run, you will save money and cut back on the calories and sugar. How much you save depends on what you like to put in your smoothies, but personally, I save at least $100 monthly, intake less than half of the calories with each homemade smoothie and under one fourth of the sugar!

If you love smoothies as much as I do, look into making them for yourself; you won't regret it! In the future, I may post some smoothie recipes that you might want to try for yourself.

Five Reasons Not to Drink Soda

Soda is probably the biggest reason why many Americans find it difficult to shed off that excess weight. Speaking from personal experience, I was able to lose fat and become noticeably slimmer by cutting soda out of my diet; even though I didn't cut out fast food and other unhealthy items from my diet!

Here are five reasons why you shouldn't touch the bubbly poison:

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup

   High fructose corn syrup is the prime agent in soda that increases body fat and raises cholesterol. HFCS can also leave you feeling hungrier, which can lead to overeating.

2. Phosphoric Acid

   Phosphoric acid can weaken your bones and damage your teeth. Coupled with the high sugar content of soda, you're looking at a high dental bill!

3. Artificial Sweeteners

   So you drink diet soda thinking that they are better for your health? Think again. Sure, you might not ingest as much sugar, but artificial sweeteners can be just as dangerous. For instance, aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde, a carcinogen, when it is digested.

4. Artificial Coloring

   The artificial coloring chemicals in soda do not add to the flavor, but they do add to the health risks. These coloring agents may contain carcinogens, and can also impair brain function. Darker sodas, such as root beers and colas, are more dangerous than lighter colored ones.

5. Finances

   That's right, it's cheaper to drink water! Drink water with your meals instead of soda, and your body and wallet will thank you! You'll be able to save some cash while shaving off the fat! You'll probably spend less long-term on medical bills too! 

I can't say that my current diet would be the pride of health gurus, but after cutting soda, I've improved my health tremendously. I won't suggest you to quit soda cold turkey, but try to limit your intake to the weekends. I guarantee that your health will improve if you reduce or remove soda from your diet!