One of the most straightforward steps you can take to improve your health in the New Year is to give up soda. The problem with soda stems from its high sugar content, particularly the liquid high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) variety, and, in the case of diet, its artificial sweetener content, among other issues. Research suggests sugary beverages are to blame for about 183,000 deaths worldwide each year, including 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 heart disease deaths and 6,000 cancer deaths.