When kids are away from their parents' watchful eyes, they may be tempted to drink soda instead of milk or water. Sugary beverages, including soda, are linked to poor nutrition, weight gain and health problems in both children and adults.

Club soda is a friend to dieters, diabetics and designated drivers. Club soda is a great mixer for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Drinking club soda is also a wise choice at holiday office parties. Like regular sweetened sodas, this fizzy beverage gets its bubbles from carbon dioxide.

Soda represents the number one source of calories in the average American's diet, according to ABC World News. The calorie content depends on the serving size and flavor of each soft drink.

Whether or not you can find a soft drink without acid depends on how you define a “soft drink.” Some people immediately think of carbonated beverages when they hear the term soft drink. Since the carbonation comes from an acid, those drinks are by nature acidic.

Switching to a diet soda can help reduce your caloric intake, especially if you're already a soda drinker. Most diet sodas, like Diet Pepsi, contain no calories, so drinking a can or two won't increase your caloric intake by itself.

Caffeine is a mild stimulant that is naturally present in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans and kola nuts. More than 90 percent of Americans age 18 and older consume caffeine, reports a 2005 study published in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association."

Zero-calorie soft drinks appeared in the United States as a marketing spin on diet soda varieties, according to the book “Coca-Globalization” by Robert Foster. Zero-calorie soft drinks contain no sugar, but instead use alternative zero calorie sweeteners to maintain the taste.

If you’ve switched to drinking diet cola rather than regular cola to maintain or lose weight, you may want to rethink this option. True, diet cola has fewer calories and less sugar, which should theoretically help you lose weight, but the ingredients in diet cola may have the opposite effect.

Caffeine is a mild stimulant that is added to soft drinks. When consumed, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which can make you feel more alert or even jumpy. According to the McKinley Health Center, 300 mg of caffeine per day is a moderate consumption level.

The term "soft drink" refers to more than just sodas -- it also encompasses any beverage with added sugars or sweeteners, including fruit punch, lemonade, sweetened teas, sports drinks and energy drinks.

Soft drink consumption has increased substantially over the last 50 years and it has been established that using large amounts of soft drinks regularly can be detrimental to your health. If used in moderation soft drinks can have some beneficial effects on your body.

The motion of an airplane can cause nausea, vomiting, sweating and dizziness in people who are particularly sensitive to movement. Motion sickness occurs due to a conflict between what you see and what the balance system in your inner ear senses.