Have you ever examined the contents of what is in a normal soft drink? If so, you may have been kind of repulsed. I know I was -- and I used to be addicted to several popular soft drink brands (no names here). After quitting soft drinks years ago and losing quite a bit of weight because of it, I vowed to tell anyone who would listen just how bad the over-consumption of soft drinks can be to weight management.

So, it comes as no surprise that a recent slew of report reviews draws a pretty strong conclusion that shows a very consistent relationship between drinking sugary soft drinks and increased risk for obesity and diabetes.

The amount of refined sugar alone in a single 12-ounce can of most popular soft drinks is enough to give anyone pause. And, I agree completely with Dr. Kelly Brownell, who said that "there is no denying that sugar-loaded soft drinks are having a negative impact on health."