

Establish some ground rules around how much soda, if any, you'll consume and when. You have to be ready for this, Bazilian says. With a bit of planning and some dedication, you can quit drinking soda for good. "However, those who feel they are addicted to drinking soda will find that it is physically and emotionally difficult to visualize their day without soda," Terry says. There isn't sufficient evidence that allows anyone to say true soda addiction makes quitting challenging. Breaking away from this happiness takes time and commitment to that process, which ultimately requires a focus on the long game, she adds.Īs for soda addiction, that's not a widely studied topic. They may associate it with joyful, nostalgic feelings - "A cold soda on the beach with family, for example," Terry says. It's not always about taste or reliance on sugar and caffeine, says Maria Sylvester Terry, registered dietitian at Eat Fit NOLA in New Orleans, Louisiana.įor some, drinking soda makes them happy: They love the taste, the carbonation, the quick burst of energy. "A person must want to do it, set him or herself up to succeed, practice and stay at it sufficiently and long enough to leave or shift a behavior or habit like this." "It takes a while to rewire the mind and the behavior but it's not impossible," Bazilian says.

This takes time, it's tedious and, quite frankly, giving up something you like is no fun. Then you need ways to monitor and reinforce the new behavior.

When a behavior becomes habituated, it takes some strategy, effort and alternative behaviors to overcome. Soda is not an essential beverage," Bazilian says, "but many people like or choose it because of some habit or taste or expectation, even if it becomes almost unconscious over time." Physiology likely plays a role, Bazilian says, due to the sugar and caffeine content of soda. Why is it so hard to quit drinking soda?Ī combination of physiological and emotional factors make it hard to give up soda. The benefits to your health are clear, yet quitting soda feels impossible for many.

#Non caffeinated soda free#
Instead of quitting cold turkey when it comes to breaking free of your soda habit, maybe it's time you start sipping on some healthy sugar-free soda. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Eat This, Not That! is reader-supported and every product we feature is independently vettedīy our editors.
