The Pebble In My Shoe

I\’ve been following a plant-based whole foods lifestyle for over four months now. I have eschewed all dairy without complaint. I have kicked all meat to the curb and haven\’t winced in the process. I have turned my nose up at all processed foods as if it were tripe in my nostrils.

The one thing I haven\’t been able to shake, however, is diet soda.

Coke Zero to be exact. Oh, how I adore it. Cherry Coke Zero is sheer bliss. Waves of comfort waft over me as I drink it.

What were we talking about again?

Now, at this point, I know some of you will point to various videos and articles that detail the many, many ways that diet soda (and the aspartame contained within) is not good for you.

And may I say, as southerners like myself do, \”You\’re preachin\’ to the choir!\” I know it\’s bad for me!

I\’ve gone so far as to research the effects of caffeine on the endothelial cells of the arteries. An older article said it helped to heal the endothelial cells. A newer article said it damaged them. AARRGH!

Dr. Esselstyn warns his patients to stay away from it altogether, so I have, of course, moved to CAFFEINE FREE Diet Soda.

I\’m sure that\’s fine, right?

Let me say, however, that I drink water like there\’s a worldwide shortage. I usually get between 64 and 96 ounces per day. Soda? Almost the same, I\’m ashamed to say…depending on the day.

I don\’t know how this is hurting or impeding my progress in the fight against Coronary Artery Disease, but I do know it\’s a distraction, an annoyance and something about which I can\’t remain on the fence.

I guess I\’m documenting my struggle with it here to say it out loud…to be accountable…to acknowledge the folly…somehow hoping it will stoke me into action.

Maybe a few choice epithets from my four faithful readers will help?

UPDATE, 6/24/2013: I think I\’m two weeks (maybe more?) completely free of soda. I kind of lost count, I guess? I still struggle with it, and sometimes find myself lingering a bit too long at the soda display in the grocery checkout aisle, but I keep reminding myself that I\’m moving BACKWARDS when I drink them instead of making progress. I started to notice, too, that my chest pain would increase the more I drank it, so I put a quick stop to it and it\’s made a huge difference.