Starbucks vs. Sonic (aka Reid vs. Mare)

Reid has been catching up on our finances since he has been home. He said he was disgusted with the amount of Starbucks and Sonic we consume. We each survive on Americanos and Diet Coke. I argued that my addiction was cheaper and healthier than his, and therefore, totally legit. He did not argue. Instead, my smart husband did some research at work the next day and found the article below. Thanks, Reid, the findings are lovely and I probably should stop drinking diet coke.

Check out this article I saw on MSN.com today (http://health.msn.com/nutrition/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100211575&imageindex=3). It talks about 8 common foods and their (sometimes) supposed health benefits.  Here's two I found interesting:

Coffee: 
No need to feel guilty anymore about that double-shot Americano that gets you going in the morning. In fact, coffee is looking more and more like a health drink. Among its remarkable benefits, new research shows, coffee may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart attack, gallstones, Parkinson’s disease, kidney stones, and cirrhosis. One caveat is that black coffee may lead to thinner bones, especially in women, but the simple solution is to add milk to your coffee.

Soda: 
There’s not much good news to relate about soda. Both the high-fructose corn syrup in regular soda and the artificial sweeteners in the diet varieties may kick your pancreas into overdrive, which boosts insulin levels and causes weight gain. Research last year from the American Chemical Society found that chemicals in beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (called “reactive carbonyls”) may increase the risk of diabetes. In addition, the caffeine and phosphoric acid in colas may thin the bones of those who frequently consume them.