Soft drinks otherwise known as soda, is big business. It causes a range of unhealthy effects.

Here are three reasons to stop, or at least reduce, your intake of carbonated beverages:

Empty Calories – A typical 12 oz. (355 ml) can of the most popular soft drink contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar. These calories contribute to the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes.

Carbon Dioxide – It’s what gives soft drinks its fizz. Carbon dioxide is a waste product our body gives off with every exhalation. Ingesting this waste puts an additional burden on our body.

Phosphoric Acid – This common acid contributes to the “bite” many soft drinks exhibit. (Plus it helps slow the growth of molds and bacteria.) To counter the pH lowering effect, calcium is leached from our bones, contributing to osteoporosis.

Clearly, soda isn’t a healthy drink. And that’s without mentioning aspartame, high fructose corn syrup from GMO corn or the addictive qualities of caffeine.