These are the following ingredients in soft drinks:

Phosphates - which affect the body's level of iron.

Sugar - in SIGNIFICANT amount. 

Artificial sweeteners - soft drinks are the largest dietary source of High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Food and beverage manufacturers began switching their sweeteners from sucrose (table sugar) to corn syrup in the 1970's when they discovered that HFSC is not only cheaper to make, it is also nearly 20 times sweeter than sugar - which further decreases manufacturing costs. The fructose in HFCS is true NON-FOOD, meaning that it has no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, so it takes these micronutrients from your body while it assimilates itself for use. This form of fructose is metabolized differently, and converts to fat more readily than any other sugar. It does not stimulate insulin secretion or enhance leptin (the body's appetite regulator), both of which act as key signals in regulating your body weight and how much food you eat. Other sources of fructose, such as fruit, DO NOT create a problem for people because they contain their own micronutrients and are metabolized effectively. 

Two other artificial sweeteners are aspartame and Splenda. 

Aspartame is a sugar alternative or artificial sweetener found in hundreds of foods, drinks, chewing gums, medicines and popular supplements. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have revealed clear links between aspartame and miscarriage, headaches, numbness, fatigue, sexual disfunction, blurred vision, insomnia, diabetes, brain tumors, seizures and depression. Reports have found that women who consume aspartame during pregnancy have an increased chance of having a child with brain damage. The reason why aspartame is so dangerous for you is that it converts into acid and methanol (which is a deadly kind of alcohol!). There are already many lawsuits in the United States in process regarding the damages aspartame makes.  

Splenda is America's number one selling artificial sweetener and is best known for its marketing logo "made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar". Splenda is actually made from chlorinated hydrocarbons or organochlorines. Organochlorines are mainly used for pesticides (such as DDT) and have consistenly been associated with cancer and abnormalities within the reproductive, immune and nervous system. Splenda is the first organochlorine ever used for human consumption! This chemical was first discovered to control malaria by killing the insects, then it became popular for agricultural use. It is an artificial agricultural insecticide. Even though DDT was banned in the US in 1972, it has now come to life again as Splenda. Doesn't it feel great to pour DDT in your body? 

Phosphoric acid - which can interfere with your body's ability to use calcium. Research shows this can lead to osteoporosis and softening of teeth and bones.

The Ohio Dental Association released this statement: This acid begins to dissolve tooth enamel in only 20 minutes. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it more difficult for you to assimilate nutrients". 

The absolute worst soft drink you can have is tonic water. Tonic water consists of quinine, another word for teratogen. Teratogen is any substance known to cause physical defects in a developing embryo. Quinine has been a traditional treatment for malaria for more than a hundred years and its many side-effects have been noted. Quinine used to be sold over-the-counter as a sulphate for the treatment of leg cramps but was withdrawn by the FDA when the opposite effects were reported. Remember, quinine is just a modern word for teratogen, the poison. Quinine (teratogen) is added to tonic water to give it a slightly bitter taste. Some people use tonic water for leg cramps even today. This is a false relief when the actual problem is iron, calcium and/or magnesium deficiency. 

You all understand that not only does these ingredients affect people trying to loose weight but all of us, children as well as adults. All ingredients above are CHEMICALS! Do you want to put that in your body and do you feel comfortable giving your kids these chemicals? If there is one easy step you can do right now at this moment to increase your health, that is to STOP drinking soft drinks and replace it with water.