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For years, health experts have advised people to stop drinking, or at least, drink less soda. Soda consumption can lead to obesity, which is a risk factor for many other health diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses. However, despite knowing the relationship between soda and poor health, many people continue to drink it. In a July 2014 Gallup survey, researchers found that 63 percent of Americans drink soda. This rate is higher than the rate calculated in 2004, which was 41 percent. In order to reduce this rate, here are five more reasons to give up soda.

1. Soda Causes Fat Buildup around the Organs

Not only can soda make you gain weight, it actually causes fat to build up around your organs. These harmful fats, such as liver and skeletal fat, can be extremely dangerous because they are not detectable via the naked eye. Therefore, you and your doctors might underestimate your risk of developing health conditions.

2. Diet Soda is not any Better

You are better off giving up soda completely because diet soda is not a better option. Diet soda has been linked to causing other kinds of health problems. In a 2011 study conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center, researchers found that people who drank diet soda had a greater increase in their waist circumference over the time span of 10 years when compared to people who did not drink any soda.

3. Some Sodas are made with Toxic Flame Retardants

Although the sodas in other areas of the world, such as Europe and Japan, cannot legally be made with toxic flame retardant brominated vegetable oil (BVO), this is not the case for the sodas manufactured in North America. BVO is used to keep the flavoring in these beverages from separating but has been linked to some negative side effects.

4. Soda contributes to pollution

The sweeteners used in diet soda, such as acesulfame K, sucralose and saccharin, cannot be broken down by our bodies. They can also bypass water treatment plants, which means that these chemicals end up polluting our water.

5. Soda speeds up aging

Soda can age you in more ways than you think. First, soda can erode your teeth, making them look unhealthy. Second, soda can lower your bone density. Third, soda can cause kidney problems. All of these side effects of drinking soda combined will make you look and feel a lot older than you actually are.

If you are on the fence about kicking your soda habit to the curb, let these five reasons help you decide on what is best for you.