Soft drink manufacturers were hoping that the recent 24 percent plunge in non-diet soda sales in America's public schools and voluntary guidelines for reducing a child's exposure to high-calorie sugary drinks would be enough to forestall a huge lawsuit, the likes of Big Tobacco's multi-billion-dollar settlements with 46 states.

I wouldn't bet the farm on it, however, with the Center for Science in the Public Interest partly behind the effort.

Although none of the protagonists are talking specifics, look for a lawsuit to be filed in Massachusetts, a state with strong consumer protection laws, sometime next year.

A possible problem with any sort of settlement, should one ever come: A ridiculously high number of public schools -- including 75 percent of our nation's high schools -- make easy money selling these sugary, health-harming drinks to your kids.

Fact is, the debatable "windfall" from lawsuits can never compensate you or your family enough when it comes to your health. Here are some other reasons why you want to minimize your intake of soda:

• Phosphoric Acid: May interfere with your body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients.
• Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects.
• Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer.

Don't think for a moment, though, that you can slip in diet soda to replace regular soda, as that is a definite move in the wrong direction.

As strange as it may seem after my extensive warnings about soda, I am absolutely convinced that diet sodas are actually worse than regular soda. Not too long ago I ran a study that showed consuming diet sodas actually doubles your risk of developing obesity.

Plus, artificial sweeteners used in diet soda, like Splenda® and NutraSweet®, pose major risks to your health.

Pure water is your best option for a beverage. One of the easiest things you can do for the good of your family's health and your own is to give up sodas and replace them with clean fresh water.