NATCHEZ — Cokes, colas, pop, soda or soft drinks, whatever you call them, soft drink consumption in America is, in a word, American.

But this American “pastime” of drinking a carbonated, caffeinated and thirst-quenching beverage can cause more problems than you think.

“Soft drinks contain only water and sweeteners,” LSU Ag Center Health and Nutritionist Specialist Elzabeth Reames said. “All you are really getting is calories when you drink them.”

Reames said we get most of the calories we need from the food that is essential to help maintain our lives.

“Extra calories are things we can enjoy if we are active and require additional energy for growth and other things,” she said.

Adams County Extension Program Assistant for the Family Nutrition Program Emma Collins said if you have a lot of health problems, cutting down on soft drink consumption is an easy thing to tackle.

“These drinks are going to make us gain weight if you don’t drink them in moderation,” she said. “Cutting down on these is really easy, really simple and can produce some good results.”

Collins said people can also drink beverages with vitamins and nutrients in them, instead of soft drinks, to lower calorie consumption.

“Drinks are a good way to get your fruit consumption for the day,” she said. “It is a good source of nutrients and it is healthy for you.”

Collins said when choosing a fruit drink, make sure it is 100 percent juice, and not a cocktail juice.

“The 100-percent juice means you are getting the actual juice from the fruit,” she said. “The cocktail drinks are just giving you water and sugar.”

Collins said milk is also another healthy option.

“Milk has calcium that will help with your bone growth,” she said. “Make sure it is not whole milk.”

Reames said that water is always a good choice when looking for a drink.

“It is necessary to have fluids in your body,” she said. “Water is always the first choice.”

Collins said drinking water can keep you hydrated and help your health.

“It can help deal with the weight you may have put on,” she said. “It can also flush your system of unnecessary fluids.”

Collins said ridding your diet of soft drinks can be difficult, as many people become addicted to them.

“In this case you may want to try weaning yourself off of them,” she said. “If you have a big craving for one, try the sodas with less calories and go from there.”

Collins said taking small steps such as this one can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

“If you start to wean yourself from not buying them, and replacing them with more nutritional beverages, you will start to get adapted to it,” she said.