3 Reasons Hot Weather and Soft Drinks Don't Mix

You're outside in the middle of a hot afternoon. You're in shorts and a T-shirt to try and keep cool. But you're busy and active, and keep wiping sweat from your brow. Maybe you're working. Maybe you're playing with your kids in the park, at the beach, or on a hike. With the sun blazing down on you for hours, you start to get thirsty.

Grab a water bottle or toss back can bottle of your favorite soda, what would you do?

If you're a water drinker, keep it up. It's the best beverage of choice to stay hydrated or rehydrate after sweating a lot during hot weather. But if you're a hot-weather soda drinker, it may be time to rethink your drink and learn the risks of drinking soda.

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, researchers studied the effects and risks of drinking soda in hot-weather conditions compared to drinking water.

And they found three risks of drinking soda during hot weather or exercise.

1. Risk for kidney damage. Researchers found that soda drinkers showed higher levels of creatine and lower levels of fluid filtration, both are indicators for risk of kidney damage.
2. High blood pressure. One in three adults are already living with high blood pressure. Researchers found that exercise in hot weather and soda consumption, only made the problem worse. The soda drinkers had higher levels of an anti-diuretic hormone linked to high blood pressure.
3. Dehydration. Sweat a lot on a hot day, and most people know it makes sense to rehydrate and drink up to replace lost fluids. But soda does not help hydrate you. Researchers found that soda drinkers were actually mildly dehydrated compared to the water drinkers.

Grab a bottle of water or fill up your glass, and drink up. And while you're at it, enjoy some good food. You'll find lots of healthy options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the MagicKitchen.com menu.