Are Soda Drinks Bad for You?
Are Soda Drinks Bad for You?
How does sugar in soft drinks and fizzy drinks like Pepsi and Coca-Cola harm your body?
9 Most Common Health Risks of Soft Drinks:
Asthma: The preservative, potassium benzoate, found in sodas when exposed to heat or light may form the chemical benzene which can trigger allergic reactions, including hives, asthma, and eczema.
Kidney Troubles: The high content of phosphoric acid in sodas are linked to kidney stones and other related malaise.
Sugar Attack: High-fructose corn syrup, and other processed sugars in soft drinks cause a severe insulin spike and crash which can lead to mood swings, energy depletion, and addiction to sugar.
Diabetes: People who consume one to two cans per day have a 26% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared with those who rarely have soft drinks.
Obesity: The connection between sugar consumption and obesity is undisputed. For every additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times.
(Obesity is defined by a BMI of 30 or above.)
Bad Teeth: Sugar and phosphoric acid in soft drinks dissolve tooth enamel and cause teeth erosions and decay.
Endocrine Problems: Soda cans are lined with BPA (bisphenyl-A), a resin that is shown to cause endocrine problems.
Weakened Bones: Phosphoric acid found in sodas leaches out calcium from the body. Formation of bones and their integrity depends on calcium.
Malnourishment: While drinking empty calories, which means no nutritional value, it depletes your body from essential minerals required for your bone and overall health.
Now that you know the right answer to that typical question "Is drinking Pepsi soda bad for me?"
It is inevitable to go even further with how bad sugary and fizzy drinks can harm your body.
So, beyond weight gain, routinely drinking these sugar-loaded beverages can have a greater risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and metabolic syndrome, which is related to diabetes and cardiovascular problems with an increased risk of premature death.
Ironically enough, advertising companies might claim that soda drinks aid in digestion.
However, this might be the worst remark we as dietitians ever heard of! In fact, it kills the bacteria flora that simply digest food and creates the perfect climate for absorbing nutrients from the food.
How can I stop drinking so much Pepsi and soda drinks?
Luckily enough many people became more aware of the health risks of fizzy drinks and soda ones do to their bodies, that's why no wonder why people are now curious on knowing the alternatives or healthy swaps of these easy on the go refreshments.
Most common healthy alternatives to soda drinks:
For homemade options:
1- Drink natural Juices mixed add Soda (carbonated water)
2- Natural sparkling water
3- Tonic with freshly squeezed lemon Juice
Or get yours in multiple flavors from these Egyptian local brands:
2- LYCHEE
References:
Harvard - Public school of health
