Month: December 2020

Holiday foods you shouldn’t feed your cats and dogs

By Dana McMahan for Today©

There’s plenty to occupy our minds during the holidays this year — that is if we’re having anything approaching a “normal” family gathering. But somehow, even on top of the 2020 concerns like spreading a deadly virus to family members, we can’t overlook the usual safety issues. I’m talking about keeping your furry family from getting sick.

a dog sitting on a chair

© Provided by TODAY

Yes, while you’re eating your feelings this holiday you may want to share the bounty with your dogs and cats, but you could unwittingly be putting them in harm’s way. You may already know that dogs shouldn’t have cooked bones that can puncture or damage their digestive tract, but holiday tables can carry many other potential risks for your pets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association shares some guidance on keeping pets safe and healthy this holiday season. It will take cooperation from everyone in the family, so be sure your relatives agree to the house rules when it comes to feeding your pets. (That means no slipping the pup a turkey leg under the table, dad!)

1. Skip the turkey and trimmings

To start, it may be tempting to share some of that platter of leftover turkey, but save it for the turkey salad unless you can pick out a small piece of light meat with no skin. The skin contains spices and butter, said Jerry Klein, DMV, American Kennel Club’s chief veterinary officer. He’s seen a number of patients over the years after a dog snatched turkey off the table or out of the trash can. Fatty foods like poultry skin can cause pancreatitis in pets, he says, a condition that can be life threatening. At minimum, he asks, do you want to spend Thanksgiving cleaning up vomit or diarrhea, or at the emergency vet?

But what about topping their kibble with gravy as a holiday treat? That’s a no from Klein as well. The flour, fat, salt and spices in gravy are problematic. Likewise say no to stuffing, which can have onions, garlic and spices, all dangerous to your pet.

2. Sweet treats should be kept out of reach

Desserts are also off the table (and should literally be off any table or counter where a curious dog can sniff them out unless you’ve done a stellar job of training them!). Chocolate items can pack a one-two punch, said Klein. While they can recover from the chocolate toxicity itself in 12 to 24 hours, the butter and fat in milk chocolate “can cause them to get sick several days afterwards with vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis.” Oatmeal raisin cookies are also a no-go thanks to the raisins, which — along with grapes — are poisonous to dogs. And while canned pumpkin can be a nice treat for pups, pumpkin pie filling can contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can be deadly to cats and dogs.

3. Keep the dinner rolls at bay

Pass the bread? No rolls for your pup. Yeast dough can cause painful gas for them, and can even cause the dangerous condition known as bloat (such as in a case Klein saw one holiday when a Great Dane puppy got into a plate of rising croissant dough).

4. Close up garbage cans, purses and luggage

Perils don’t end at the table. Unless your dog is one hundred percent trustworthy when it comes to staying out of the garbage, take great care to be sure they can’t go nosing through the trash, said Klein. And if you do have family visiting this year, be aware of open purses or luggage in pets’ reach. Anything from birth control pills to marijuana edibles to xylitol-containing gum can be consumed in a heartbeat.

5. Keep flowers and centerpieces out of reach

Be sure to avoid centerpieces or flower arrangements with items that can be dangerous to cats and dogs as well. Among those are amaryllis, Baby’s Breath, Sweet William, some ferns, hydrangeas and lilies. If you think your pet has been exposed to anything dangerous call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435.

Can they have any food fun this holiday season? We want to show our love through food, but “you can kill them with kindness,” said Klein, when you consider that “obesity is one of the largest problems in canine health.”

If you really have to give them something, stick with plain, skinless, white meat turkey, just a little bit, he said, or maybe a few unseasoned green beans. Better still, keep them away from temptation in a place where they’re safe and happy, like a crate or their favorite bed with a toy they love. It can be harder to train relatives than the dog, after all!

Holiday foods you shouldn’t feed your cats and dogs (msn.com)

17 Best Christmas Brunch Recipes

Updated with new photos and links.

Unwrapping presents may be the main event on Christmas morning. But a delicious brunch—best enjoyed in PJs—also brings merriment to the morning. Whether you like sweet (extra syrup, please!) or savory (ham and cheese are a dream team), here are 17 brunch recipes that feel just right for Christmas morning.

1. Muffin Tin Quiches with Smoked Gouda and Ham

© Provided by Eat This, Not That!

Your muffin tins are multi-taskers. Not only can they bake your favorite muffins, but they can also make individual quiches to wow your brunch crowd. This recipe is especially great for Christmas morning because you can dice up some leftover ham from a Christmas Eve dinner, then mix in the vegetables. A generous serving of Gouda gives them a creamy, buttery bite.

https://www.eatthis.com/muffin-tin-quiches-smoked-gouda-ham/

2. Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding with Pistachios

© Waterbury Publications, Inc.

Psst, this bread pudding recipe with chocolate and sweet cherries may look and taste like dessert, but it’s just as great as a brunch dish.

https://www.eatthis.com/chocolate-cherry-bread-pudding-pistachios-recipe/

4. Breakfast Casserole

© Beth Lipton/ Eat This, Not That!

For a delicious brunch, bake this flavor-packed and filling breakfast casserole that’s made with caramelized onions, baby kale, and mushrooms.

https://www.eatthis.com/keto-breakfast-casserole-recipe/

7. Charcuterie Brunch Boards

Here’s a genius idea: Make a charcuterie board for brunch on Christmas morning so that your family can wander in and out of the kitchen, enjoying a completely customizable and leisurely breakfast.

© How Sweet Eats

Easy-to-assemble, a charcuterie board is a perfect place for your favorite brunch staples. The possibilities are endless, but you can start with cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, sliced ham, waffles, fruit, vegetables, and more.

Speaking of more, to see more brunch idea’s, click below:

17 Christmas Brunch Recipes for a Festive Holiday — Eat This Not That

10 Financial Moves to Make before the End of the Year

By Matt BeckerPosted  October 25, 2019

Note: This article is somewhat dated but still contains worthwhile information for this year end. DH

We’re closing in on the end of the year, which means it’s almost time for family, friends, travel, stress, fun, and everything else that comes with holiday season.

It’s also a great chance to take stock of your financial situation, reflect on what’s gone well this year, what could be improved, and what you need to do to put yourself in the best situation possible going into next year.

But let’s face it: you don’t want to spend the holidays handling your finances. That’s no fun for anyone. So instead of waiting until the last minute, and potentially missing some important deadlines, I’d like to help you get a bit of a head start.

Here are 10 moves you can start making right now to improve your financial situation before the end of the year.

1. Review your goals and set new ones

If you set some financial goals at the beginning of the year, now is a good time to check back in on them and ask yourself some questions:

  • What’s gone well?
  • What hasn’t gone well? Why is that?
  • Are these goals still relevant? Do any of them need to be discarded or updated?
  • Are there any new goals you’d like to be working towards?
  • What are some specific steps you can take to make better progress going forward?

Block some time off in your calendar to review those goals, update them as needed, and set new goals for the coming year. Your life and your circumstances have almost certainly changed over the past 12 months, and your goals should reflect those changes.

In the end, your financial plan can only be as good as the goals you set. Make this review a priority, block the time off in your calendar, and set yourself up for success in the coming year.

2. Maximize your retirement/financial independence savings

The easiest way to reach financial independence as soon as possible is to save more money. Nothing else you do will have as big an impact.

So it makes sense to take stock of how much you’ve already saved this year and whether you should be making any special moves to maximize your contributions to accounts like your 401(k), IRA, and HSA.

There are some limits and deadlines to consider here, so let’s walk through them quickly.

3. Plan next year’s savings

With both your goals and your savings still top-of-mind, you’re in prime position to make a least a rough savings plan for next year.

Here’s a little cheat sheet you can use to set up automatic contributions that max out each of your tax-advantaged investment accounts:

401(k)

  • 2020 annual max: $19,500
  • Monthly: $1,625
  • Per paycheck (26 paychecks): $750
  • Per paycheck (24 paychecks): $812.50

Traditional or Roth IRA

  • 2020 annual max: $6,000
  • Monthly: $500
  • Per paycheck (26 paychecks): $230.77
  • Per paycheck (24 paychecks): $250

Health Savings Account

  • 2020 annual max: $3,550 individual / $7,100 family
  • Monthly: $295.83 / $591.67
  • Per paycheck (26 paychecks): $136.54 / $273.08
  • Per paycheck (24 paychecks): $147.92 / $295.83

But of course financial independence shouldn’t be your only goal. Back in Step 1 you might have set goals like buying a house, traveling, building an emergency fund, switching to a single income, or starting a business.

Those shorter-term goals are just as important as the long term ones, so make sure to set aside some regular savings for those as well.

4. Optimize your employee benefits

The end of the year is open enrollment season, which means your employer will probably be sending you a big packet of information about your 2019 employee benefit options. That might sound pretty boring, and it kind of is, but it’s also a big opportunity to make sure you grab every last financial incentive available to you.

Here are a few of the things you might be able to take advantage of:

  • Retirement plans – Have there been any new plans introduced? Are there any changes to the old plan? Are you taking full advantage of your employer match?
  • Health insurance – Check both your options and (if applicable) your spouse’s options to make sure you’re getting the right coverage for your family’s needs. You may even be able to choose a plan that qualifies you for a health savings account!
  • Dental and vision insurance – This can be valuable coverage, especially if you know you’ll need care in the coming year.
  • Medical FSA – Money contributed to this account is tax-deductible and can then be used tax-free for medical expenses. Just be cautious because this money is, in many cases at least, use it or lose it. The maximum annual contribution for 2020 is $2,750.
  • Dependent care FSA – Money contributed to this account is tax-deductible and can then be used tax-free for childcare expenses. Hey, at least there’s SOME relief from this enormous cost! Though again, this money is use it or lose it so plan carefully. The maximum annual contribution for 2020 is $5,000.
  • Life and disability insurance – There are pros and cons to getting this coverage through work, but at the very least it’s good to know what’s available to you so you can make an informed decision.
  • Legal services – You may be able to take advantage of heavily discounted legal services, which can range from estate planning, to immigration assistance, to family law.
  • Other perks – There’s a whole range of other perks your employer might offer, such as gym membership, transportation reimbursement, education assistance, and many others. Make sure to look through all your options so you can take full advantage of everything that’s available to you.

5. Use any remaining FSA money

One of the tricky parts of a medical FSA is that the money is often use it or lose it. That is, any money that’s still in your account at the end of the year is gone forever.

So, while there’s still time left, check your FSA account balance and think about how you might be able to use it before the end of the year.

Do you need new glasses? Do you have any medical care you’ve been putting off? Maybe your child could use a trip to the dentist?

See if you can find a use for this money before the end of the year so that it doesn’t go to waste.

Quick note: Not all FSA plans are 100% use it or lose it. Some offer a grace period where you’re allowed to use the money for a certain period of time after year end. Others will let you keep up to $500 for next year. Check your specific plan details to see what leeway you’re allowed here.

6. Plan for the holidays

The holidays can be a lot of fun. Time off from work. Time with family. Maybe even some traveling.

They can also be a HUGE money drain. Between gifts, food, plane tickets, hotels, and all the rest, the money you spend during the holidays can throw you way off your other goals, and potentially even leave you with a new pile of debt to handle.

The best way to avoid all of that is to plan ahead.

Make a plan for how much you want to spend. Set a gift budget, a food budget, and a travel budget. Save ahead for the things you know are coming.

I’m all for traveling to see family and spending on things that matter. And the holidays are a great opportunity to do just that.

With a little bit of planning, you can do it in a way that keeps your other goals on track.

7. Rebalance your investments

I like to be pretty hands off with my investments.

As long as you pick a good enough investment strategy, minimize your costs, and automate your savings, you should stop worrying about it and get back to the rest of your life.

But there IS a small amount of regular maintenance that helps keep things on track, and rebalancing your investments is one of those pieces.

Rebalancing is essentially this:

You chose to invest in a particular way with a particular mix of investments. This much money in stocks, that much in bonds, etc.

But over time the markets will move and that mix will naturally change. When the stock market is up, that part of your investment account will increase in value and you’ll have a bigger percentage of your money in stocks than you originally planned. The opposite is true when the stock market is down.

Rebalancing is how you bring everything back in line with your personal goals. It’s simply the process of resetting your investments back to your original plan.

Of course, there are also a number of investment options that automate the process of rebalancing so that you don’t have to worry about it. 

8. Double-check your insurance and estate plan

Life moves fast, and as your circumstances change you may find yourself with new things to protect, or maybe even things that no longer need protection.

Which means it’s a good idea to review your insurance and estate plan from time to time to make sure it’s still covering what you need it to cover, and nothing more.

Here are three things in particular you’ll want to review:

  • Life insurance – A change in circumstances, such as a new child, a new house, a windfall, a marriage, or a divorce can significantly change your need for life insurance. If you’ve been through any big changes, you can use this tool to re-evaluate your need for coverage.
  • Disability insurance – If you’ve changed jobs or had a significant change in income, you may need to update your coverage to make sure you’re fully protected.
  • Estate plan – The same changes that would trigger a review of life insurance should trigger a review of your will and other estate planning documents. This is simply to make sure that your family will always be cared for in the way you want.

9. Review the past year’s income and expenses

If you’ve been tracking your spending for the past year, now is a good time to look at the full year’s worth of information and ask yourself some questions:

  • Do any of the numbers surprise you?
  • Were there any irregular expenses you hadn’t planned for?
  • Did you save for the things you wanted to save for?
  • Are there any expenses that would be easy to cut?
  • Do you see any opportunities to increase your income?
  • Do you have room to put more money towards more enjoyable activities?

There’s nothing like looking at the cold, hard numbers to get a real sense of where your money is going, what you’re prioritizing, and what you’d like to change.

10. Record your net worth

Your net worth is your single most important financial number for the simple reason that just about every good financial move you make serves to either increase it or protect it.

And that means that tracking your net worth over time will help you gauge whether the financial moves you’re making are actually working. If your net worth is increasing, you’re making progress. If not, it might be time to re-evaluate the decisions you’re making.

So no matter what, recording your net worth now is a good idea. And if you can, compare it to your net worth at the same time last year to see how it’s changed, think about what worked and what didn’t, and use that information to influence your plans for the coming year.

What will you do to improve your financial situation?

You certainly don’t have to hit all 10 of these by the end of the year (though it would be great if you did!). That’s a lot to take on.

But as you look at this list, try to find at least 2-3 things that you can commit to handling before December 31, and maybe another 2-3 that you can commit to at the start of next year.

This isn’t about getting EVERYTHING right. It’s about making consistent forward progress one step at a time.

What next step will you take?

Source: 10 Financial Moves to Make before the End of the Year – Mom and Dad Money

The 10 Worst Movies of 2020

By Richard Evans  for BestLife

As we near the end of the year and look back on the last 12 months in film, it becomes clear that calling 2020 a weird time for movies is something of an understatement. Theaters have been closed in parts of the country for most of the year, leading to a resurgence of drive-in movies and sending major studio releases to streaming services. No matter how you managed to watch them, there have been some real standout films this year—and, of course, some total turkeys. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the 10 worst movies of 2020.

So here are the 10 worst of the worst movies of 2020. Seen them?

10. Artemis Fowl

Metascore: 31

9. Half Brothers

Metascore: 30

8. Brahms: The Boy II

Metascore: 29

7. Force of Nature

Metascore: 29

6. Jiu Jitsu

Metascore: 28

5. Songbird

Metascore: 27

4. Dolittle

Metascore: 26

3. The Tax Collector

Metascore: 22

2. Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island

Metascore: 22

1. The Last Days of American Crime

Metascore: 15

Source: The Worst Movie of 2020, According to Critics (msn.com)

10 Frozen Pizzas to Always Leave on Grocery Store Shelves

Article by Jennifer Maldonado  for EatThis,NotThat.com

© Provided by Eat This, Not That!

10 Frozen Pizzas to Always Leave on Grocery Store Shelves

Sometimes, all you really need is a frozen pizza to hit the spot. It’s ready in minutes and you don’t have to worry about going out to pick it up or wait for the delivery person to arrive. Plus, you don’t have to spend too much time in the kitchen like you would if you made it from scratch. But not every frozen pizza is the same. And some are worse for you than others.

So which is the worst frozen pizza out there? Well, we rounded up the 10 unhealthiest frozen pizzas you’ll find in the freezer aisle. That way, you know which pie to just skip when you’re looking for the perfect addition to your Friday night hangout in your living room.

1. Stouffer’s Three Meat French Bread Pizza

Per pizza: 460 calories, 25 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,070 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (3 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 18 g protein

These French-bread based mini pies are topped with sausage, pepperoni, and bacon, creating a small pizza that has more sodium than 12 McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. Yikes.

2. DiGiorno Croissant Crust Three Meat

Per pizza: 2,050 calories, 110 g fat (50 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 4,200 mg sodium, 180 g carbs (10 g fiber, 20 g sugar), 85 g protein

DiGiorno took things up a notch with the introduction of its croissant crust. While it might make for a lighter, flakier pie, it’s still high in calories and sodium.

3. Red Baron Thin and Crispy Pepperoni Pizza

Per pizza: 1,170 calories, 60 g fat (30 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,030 mg sodium, 114 g carbs (6 g fiber, 27 g sugar), 45 g protein

Red Baron’s thin crust pies aren’t actually worse than the classic crust options. Just one slice of the Thin and Crispy Pepperoni Pizza will set you back 1,010 milligrams of sodium. The classic version? It’s still pretty scary, coming in at 810 milligrams of sodium.

4. Tombstone Original Supreme Pizza

Per 1 pizza: 1,360 calories, (28 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,200 mg sodium, 140 g carbs (8 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 60 g protein

The presence of peppers, olives, and onions don’t really help make things better here. This pie, which is also topped with the classic processed meats combo of sausage and pepperoni, is scary high in sodium.

5. Celeste Pizza for One, Sausage and Pepperoni

Per pizza: 400 calories, 19 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 900 mg sodium, 47 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 10 g protein

If you thought going for the “personal pan” option would be a safer bet, this sausage and pepperoni pizza from Celeste proves otherwise. Coming in with 900 milligrams of sodium and a very long list of ingredients that includes fattening palm oil, this one gets a skip.

6. DiGiorno Bacon Me Crazy Pizza

Per pizza: 1,640 calories, 84 g fat (40 g saturated fat), 3,680 mg sodium, 136 g carbs (8 g fiber, 12 g sugar), 80 g protein

The fat and sodium in this pie are way too high! Even if you are splitting this pie, one serving alone is packing 920 milligrams of the salty stuff.

7. Red Baron Classic Crust Four Cheese Pizza

Per 1 pizza: 1,520 calories, 68 g fat (36 g saturated fat), 2,880 mg sodium, 160 g carbs (8 g fiber, 32 g sugar), 64 g protein

You might think that since this pizza is thin crust and just topped with cheese and no meats, you would in the clear. But don’t be fooled! It’s still high in calories, fat, and sodium.

8. California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza

Per 1 pizza: 880 calories, 32 g fat (16 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 1,940 mg sodium, 101 g carbs (4 g fiber, 27 g sugar), 47 g protein

While this pizza gets some points because the chicken it’s topped with is grilled, there are still plenty of red flags. The fact that there are a few different sugars listed on the ingredients is not the best when it comes to finding a healthier pizza option.

9. Screamin’ Sicilian Brazen Buffalo

Per pizza: 1,320 calories, 60 g fat (28 g saturated fat), 5,200 mg sodium, 124 g carbs (8 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 72 g protein

This spicy Buffalo chicken pizza is simply drowning in salt. One slice sets you back 1,300 milligrams, making the whole pie clock in at more than 5,000 milligrams. Keep in mind that The American Heart Association recommends the average person have no more than 2,300 milligrams a day of sodium, moving toward an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 milligrams. 

10. Tombstone Original 4 Meat

Per pizza: 1,480 calories, 72 g fat (32 g saturated fat), 3,640 mg sodium, 140 g carbs (8 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 68 g protein

By now, it should be clear that any pizza that is topped with multiple processed meats is going to be bad news for your waistline. And that’s all this 4 Meat pie from Tombstone is—trouble!

Source: 10 Frozen Pizzas to Always Leave on Grocery Store Shelves (msn.com)

Winter Solstice 2020: When Is It and Why Is It the Shortest Day of the Year?

Newsweek areticle by Aristos Georgiou Photo by © Gary Hershorn/Getty Image

The December solstice this year will occur at 5:02 a.m. ET on Monday, December 21, marking the shortest day of the year and the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

While we tend to think that the term “winter solstice” refers to an entire day, it technically only refers to a specific moment in time—when the Earth’s North Pole is pointing furthest away from the sun.

The day on which the December solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere has the fewest daylight hours and the longest night. From this date onwards, the days start to get longer again.

The reason the day of the winter solstice is so short in the Northern Hemisphere can be explained by the fact that Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of the planet’s orbit around the sun.

Thanks to this phenomenon, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is pointed as far away from the sun as possible at the December solstice. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is pointed furthest towards our star.

On December 21, the sun will take its lowest possible path across the sky after rising in the east and setting in the west, providing the Northern Hemisphere with fewer hours of light than any other day this year.

The December solstice marks the start of “astronomical winter.” This astronomical definition of winter is based on the movement of our planet around the sun.

“Meteorological winter,” on the other hand, begins three weeks earlier on December 1. This meteorological definition of winter is based on annual temperature cycles, with the mercury in the Northern Hemisphere typically falling to its lowest average levels in December, January and February.

Because of Earth’s tilt, different parts of our planet receive the sun’s most direct rays over the course of the year, giving rise to the seasons. When Earth’s North Pole is tilted away from the sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter because it is receiving less direct radiation.

The opposite scenario is true when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. During this period the hemisphere experiences summer.

As you move further away from the equator either north or south, the effect of Earth’s tilt on the seasons becomes more pronounced. While Earth’s equatorial regions do experience different seasons—wet and dry—there is little variation in temperature throughout the year, unlike at higher latitudes.

The December solstice usually occurs on the 21st or 22nd day of the month but on rare occasions it falls on the 20th or 23rd.

Source: Winter Solstice 2020: When Is It and Why Is It the Shortest Day of the Year? (msn.com)

Dangerous Side Effects of Drinking Soda Every Day

Faye Brennan Article Photo credit EatThis,NotThat.com

If you drink soda every day, chances are, you’ve been doing so for years—and you’ve probably heard countless times that it’s not good for your health. Still, that’s not stopping you from getting your daily fix.

But, consider this: That glass of refreshing, bubbly, fizz that you’re so loyal to day-in-and-day-out is likely damaging your body in ways you wouldn’t even begin to imagine. To say that it’s preventing you from living your best life is not an understatement.

In fact, here are all the unfortunate side effects of drinking soda—yes, even diet soda—every day, backed by science—listed out in full detail to convince you that it’s time to (finally!) quit this unhealthy habit for good. 

1. Your risk of death may go up.

Yes, you read that right. A 2019 study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that men and women who drink more than two sugary beverages (ahem, sodas) a day experienced a 21% increased risk of mortality than those who drank less than one a month.

2. You’ll have an increased risk of heart disease complications.

The same study also found that drinking two or more sugary drinks a day can heighten your risk of death from cardiovascular disease or stroke by 31%. It’s not a stretch of facts to say that your daily soda habit could be drastically shortening your life

3. You’ll feel sluggish and irritable—every day.

Every time you suck down a can of soda, you’re ingesting your entire day’s worth of sugar. This causes your blood sugar to soar about 20 minutes later, according to research, and then totally crash after an hour or so—leaving you feeling tired and moody. So, just picture what every day would look like if you weren’t riding such an emotional roller coaster…

4. You’ll likely eat more.

Research published in the American Journal of Public Health found that drinking soda triggers your appetite or subdues feelings of fullness, which leads you to eat more. Specifically, 17 percent more calories than you would’ve normally—and when that’s happening every day, it can add up quick.

5. You’ll gain weight.

Speaking of eating more, study after study has linked drinking soda to weight gain. At 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar, one soda can consumed every day equals an extra 51,000 calories—or 14 pounds—a year above your normal diet. The proof is in the research: An American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that women gained an average of 17 pounds over 4 years when they drank sugary beverages. What’s worse, research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that consuming fructose-sweetened beverages can lead to an increase of visceral fat—aka fat that wraps around your vital organs and gives you a belly.

6. You’ll be more prone to develop type 2 diabetes.

A large study published in Diabetes Care determined that drinking 1-2 servings of soda every day increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 26 percent

7. You may remember less.

Research featured in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia reveals that those who drink a ton of soda experience the greatest brain shrinkage. That’s an issue if you count on your brain to remember things.

8. You may develop depression.

Surprising, but true. Drinking four or more cans of soda every day can make you 30% more likely to develop depression, according to a 2017 study published in the journal PLoS One. This could potentially be avoided if you simply stopped drinking soda.

For drinks that you can sip on every single day that won’t have such negative side effects as soda, check out this list of the healthiest drinks to sip right now, according to dietitians.

Source: Dangerous Side Effects of Drinking Soda Every Day, According to Science (msn.com)

%d bloggers like this: