Fix your drinking problem

If you pound a couple cans of soda per day, you're drinking your waistline bigger with each gulp. Even drinking one regular soda a day really isn't the best idea, for it drives your blood sugar through the roof and boosts insulin levels -- both have been linked to a number of health complications. So is drinking diet soda the answer?

Not so, says a growing body of evidence. Studies show that people who drink diet soda daily have higher obesity rates than non-drinkers. As if that weren't enough, there's plenty of information out there suggesting that dark soda (diet or regular) can contribute to the growth of kidney stones.

If you're already rolling your eyes in anticipation of what you know I'm going to say next (you're right, I am going to say it), please allow me to at least offer some tips on making a more interesting drink out of it. Here it is ... ready? Drink water. There, I said it. Now let me say this much -- if H2O is a bit too boring and flavorless for you, try adding fresh fruit to your water jug, such as berries or lemon or orange slices. There's truly no better way to stay hydrated and replenish your fluids than drinking copious amounts of water. Sorry for sounding like a Boy Scout about it, but it's the truth.