Do you know how soda affects your body?

In the early 1880's the first cola-flavored drink was introduced...That long ago? Amazing.
Different types of soda's have been popping up through out history. We've got Ginger Ale, which started in Ireland and we've got soda water, which pretty much started it all.

And, perhaps many of us remember growing up and soda being the main drink at birthday parties, classroom parties and anywhere you went to get food, or drink.

But, within the last few years, I've personally noticed a drastic change in the amount of people drinking soda. I'm not sure of the facts, but through speculation, more people seem to be straying away from the product.

There's this little diagram my mom sent me in an email, here are some things I found interesting.

1. A 12 oz. can of soda has 9 teaspoons of sugar, or corn syrup, sucrose. This leads to weight gain, belly fat, and type 2 diabetes.
2. The caramel, or brown coloring, the chemicals that produce this color have been linked to cancer (lung and liver) in lab rats and mice.
3. The amount of sugar and acid in the soda can lead to tooth decay.

It's fun to drink every now and then, but like we all know, the best choice is water. If you need a sugar fix, go for something else. Tea is always good, Tazo Tea, or a passion tea lemonade drink from Starbucks.

I know there's tons of information out there on soda how it affects your body, but I'll just list a few things that could happen as a result from consuming soda daily, or routinely.

There's other things to keep in mind, but these are a few simple facts to be aware of.

P.S. sorry for the lack of photos, I'll get more in here soon.

Healthy Liver = Happier, Healthier You!

First off, your liver is such an important part in ridding your body of toxins and filtering you out. It also helps to regulate fat in your body (i.e. bile. yuck, but necessary.)

I was reading in an article on Suzanne Somers newsletter, there are many ways to keep your liver healthy, and you living longer. We all want longevity right?

Things to incorporate into your diet (if you haven't already)

• Eggs: They are good for you, and full of so many nutrients that the egg is basically producing life itself. They have an ingredient that helps your liver create bile. .
• Omega-3's and fatty acids: These you don't have to take a supplement to get. You can get these essentials from walnuts, salmon and much more. 

These are just a few things that are important to keeping your liver running. Also, if you tend to be a heavy drinker, or enjoy drinks, just remember that your liver has to process and handle the alcohol. Maybe, for the sake of your liver health, cut out the alcohol, or just don't drink so much as often. 

Some links I've enjoyed: 

Healthy Fats - Avocado 

Sleep Myths - Wine, Caffeine and more 

Exercise in the A.M.

It might be hard to wake up that body in the morning when it's so warm and comfortable in your bed...But, it's true that exercising before you start your days events, treats won't be as tempting and you'll sleep better at night. So, who knows...getting up to exercise and sleeping better at night...You'll definitely be able to get up and be well rested!

• As the day goes on that willpower of making healthy and smart decisions wears away, unfortunately. But, exercising in the morning will help to keep some of that willpower going strong throughout the day. 
• How many of you actually feel hungry after you workout? If you don't, that's normal! Most people eat less after they workout. Yeah! Also, it'll be easier to resist that chocolate cupcake later. 

Now, we approach the part of actually getting out of bed and getting those shoes on. 

Well, what's helped me in the past, was just the sheer power of my mind. And, going to bed at a decent hour the night before. 

• Remind yourself about how you feel after you workout, and that it is, in fact easier to make healthier food decisions. 
• Set several alarms, only if it's hard for you to wake up in the morning and the snooze button becomes your best friend. Write yourself little encouraging notes along the way to change and when you get back, like "Way to go!" 
• Keep a journal of the days you've worked out and what you did. Keep yourself happy and motivated. 
• Keep a notebook also of the foods you eat, yes it takes extra time, but diet has so much to do with health and weight. 
• Plan you workout with someone else. That way it'll keep you motivated to do your best, who says a little competition is bad? 

Healthy reasons to indulge in some dark chocolate

Milk chocolate can often be the chocolate of choice, creamy, milky, and just so yummy, it's too easy to gorge on a a whole bar, or two.

But, dark chocolate has proven to be healthier with no toxins. Some studies say get dark chocolate up to at least 65 percent dark chocolate, but then there's some that says 70 percent is better. There are tons of benefits to eating dark chocolate.

The darker the chocolate, the better. It's tough to eat the darker it gets, honestly, but 70 percent dark chocolate by Lindt, or 72 percent from Godiva, both yummy and smooth.

Dark chocolate has lots of fat in it, but it's good fat. Unlike, in milk chocolate, there's a lot of added sugars.

Some benefits: 

- Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. It fights free radicals, which could be connected to aging. When there are too many free radicals hanging out in your body, it can cause diseases.

- It also helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. (That's a plus!)

- According to EveryDayHealth.com, a recent study explained that in women, those who ate at least two dark chocolate bars a week had a lower risk in getting a stroke.

Now, these are just three reasons why eating dark chocolate can be beneficial. Check out more at EveryDay Health's website.