---
title: "Addicted to Pop?"
entity: "blog"
canonical_url: "https://www.andreaproulxnd.com/blog/addicted-to-pop"
markdown_url: "https://www.andreaproulxnd.com/llms/blog/addicted-to-pop"
lastmod: "2018-07-15T18:17:00.000Z"
---

## Addicted to Pop?

How to change a bad habit

Far too many of my patients use pop as a means to hydrate themselves. But sadly the negative effects are not printed on the label like those pictures we see of diseased lungs on cigarette packages.  New York City has adopted a ‘[soda tax](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/11/05/berkeley-passes-soda-tax/18521923/)’ and recently [Philadelphia made a similar announcement.](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/upshot/soda-tax-passes-in-philadelphia-advocates-ask-whos-next.html?_r=1)

If Health Canada were to make pop companies change their labelling to inform consumers of the effects, here’s what health risks we could see:

- obesity

- diabetes

- metabolic syndrome

- poor blood sugar regulation

- tooth decay

- possible increased uric acid levels which can lead to gout pains

Despite this long list of chronic disease, many of my patients seem to struggle with cutting out the pop from their grocery list.

Here’s what I hear:

- I loooove it

- Pop reminds me of family dinner as a kid

- I get it at the school or college cafeteria

- It’s easy

- It’s cheap

- It comes ‘automatically’ with my fast-food meal

- I want the fizz

- I want the sugar

- I want the caffeine buzz

- I want “me time”

Like with any habit, if we want to change our behaviour we have to ask ourselves why did we choose that habit in the first place? Gretchen Rubin, the author of the ‘Happiness Project’, wrote a great book about habits and how to change them. “Better than Before” is an excellent read to get you started on your journey.

So let’s ask ourselves:  Why did I choose pop?   There can be myriad reasons and they may change. But the benefit of asking ourselves “why?” we do something is of utmost importance. Write down the reason, start a list on your phone, talk about it with a friend.  Only once we start to see ‘why’ will we be able to find alternatives and deal with the root cause of the habit.

#### Possible solutions

Let’s take the original list of reasons why.

- I loooove it… This is not very specific. What exactly is it that you love.

- Pop reminds me of Friday family dinner as a kid… In this case, the person has associated pop to a positive emotional experience. What was it about Friday night dinner? Was it that the whole family was together? Was it that you were not in a rush since homework could wait? Re-create that happy dinner moment now – good company, take your time to eat. Create new positive food memories.

- It’s easy… I can’t argue with that. But water is free and easy too.

- It’s cheap… Sadly the medical community can’t argue with this either. Well, except that water is free.

- It comes ‘automatically’ with my fast-food meal… No it does not! And the restaurant also serves water and juice.

- I want the fizz… Club soda or homemade fizzy water such as The Soda Stream offer fizz too. You can even add your own flavours.

- I want the sugar… Why? Are you tired? Talk to your medical professional such as your naturopathic doctor to fid out why you’re tired. Sugar cravings can also come from imbalance in gut bacteria or magnesium deficiencies.

- I want the caffeine buzz… Same as with the sugar. Why do you need the buzz?

- I want “me time” …  Ah ha! This is tremendous when I hear this. Like the 1950s era cocktail after work, we all want some quiet down time for ourselves. But what do we have to pollute our bodies to get that relaxing moment? We all deserve better!

The next time we walk into the grocery store, there will be an abundance of pops to choose from. Society will not change overnight. But we can make personal changes for our own well-being. And the first step is asking ourselves: why.