All sodas should be avoided on the Perfect 10 Diet . Recent research indicates
that drinking more than one soda a day—even if it’s diet—is associated with a
cluster of risk factors linked to the development of diabetes and heart disease.
Soda can throw off your insulin and sex hormones, since just 1 can contains as
much as 10 teaspoons of sugar.
That’s not all. Some research has linked consumption of soda to pancreatic
cancer, and both regular and diet sodas contain a preservative called benzoate to
maintain freshness. Benzoate interacts with vitamin C and breaks down to
benzene, a major carcinogen that has been linked to leukemia. Although the
amount of benzoate present in soda is quite small, it’s something to consider
when you contemplate the massive amounts of soda you’ll consume over a
lifetime.
Regular soda contains massive amounts of high-fructose corn syrup, and diet
sodas have aspartame. Both perpetuate sugar cravings and lead to weight gain.
What about Milk Substitutes, Such as Soy, Rice, and Almond Milk?
Many people who are lactose intolerant turn to vegetarian milk substitutes such
as soy and rice milk. We are told that these are healthy alternatives to whole
milk. I’m not a fan of either of them. Rice milk is made out of white rice, and it
can contain more than 30 grams of sugar in a single serving.
On the other hand, soy milk contains little sugar, but it contains excessive
amounts of polyunsaturated oils that are also bad for your health. If you are
lactose intolerant and want to have a milk substitute, I prefer unsweetened
almond milk, which you can find in organic and wholefood stores. Almond milk
is made from raw almonds soaked in water. It has very little sugar and is a
perfectly healthy choice.
What about Coffee and Tea on the Perfect 10 Diet?
A daily trip to Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks for a grande or a venti latte will not
get you a perfect 10 physique. You need to kick the caffeine habit. On the Perfect
10 Diet, I’d rather see you stick to decaffeinated beverages at all times, but if
you can’t kick the caffeine habit, at least cut down to 1 cup a day.
Excess caffeine promotes excess insulin secretion, which can lead to hunger. I
know you might be saying, “But coffee has no calories, so how can it be bad?”
Caffeine stimulates your nervous system so you feel a little on edge. In turn,
your adrenals pump the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine and
lead your liver to release some sugar into the bloodstream. Next, insulin is