Diet sodas

Stop thinking that dark sodas are worse for you. Both are pretty bad. Drinks like Mountain Dew and Fresca may look less chemical-filled than cola because of their lighter hue, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Instead of caramel coloring—the chemical that makes Coke brown—Diet Mountain Dew and Fresca are colored with brominated vegetable oil, a chemical used in rocket fuel and flame retardants.

It has been shown to have negative effects on thyroid hormones and fertility, a primary health concern of people in their 30s. Added chemicals like BVO can contribute to internal inflammation, which has been linked to obesity.