Updated: Jul 11
It seems there’s no escaping soft drinks. Everywhere we look, advertisements tell us that these drinks will refresh us and make us feel good.
What these ads don’t show us is the serious health effects of soft drinks, especially popular brands of cola. These effects are even more harmful in kids.
Although the odd full-sugar cola every now and then won’t do adults too much harm, it should be off-limits for kids. Here’s why.
One 330ml can of Coke contains 35g of sugar.
Health experts recommend that kids aged 7-10 shouldn’t consume more than 24g of sugar per day, and kids aged 4-6 no more than 19g.
Too much sugar can have serious consequences for growing kids. Numerous studies have linked sugary sodas to weight gain and obesity in children, as well as increasing the risk of developing diabetes later in life.
The combination of acid and sugar in cola drinks also weakens tooth enamel, increasing the risk of cavities.
Artificially sweetened colas are no better. Studies show they can affect kids’ metabolic function, brain development, and especially their gut bacteria.
Cola is high in caffeine.
The average can of cola contains around 35-38 mg caffeine.
Caffeine in any amount is not recommended for children - for many reasons. It hinders growth and development, upsets the normal balance of neurochemistry in the developing brain, and over-stimulates the adrenal glands. It also disrupts their behaviour and natural sleep patterns.
Cola contains phosphorus.
Phosphorus is a common ingredient in soda and can leach calcium from the bones. Kids who drink soda regularly are especially at risk of fractures due to poor bone density and osteoporosis later in life.
Cola is just empty calories.
High in sugar, caffeine, and bone-leaching minerals. Commercial fizzy drinks such as Coke contain zero nutrients, which means they have no place in a child’s diet!
Why Noughty Cola is unique
There’s a huge range of cola brands available now. Many of them contain the same nasties: sugar, caffeine, phosphorus, and not much else.
But Noughty Cola isn’t like other colas.
For a start, Noughty Cola is naturally sweetened with NZ apples and contains only 2.4g of natural fruit sugars. The cola flavour isn’t from sugar, either - it’s from natural extracts! We’ve created a unique cola taste using only herbs, hazelnut, and real kola nut.
It’s also totally free from both caffeine AND phosphorus!
But the best part about Noughty Cola is that it contains a host of vitamins and minerals specifically for growing bodies and minds. One serving provides 200mg calcium and 100% of kids’ daily recommended intake for Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, and iodine.
It’s all the fun of cola with none of the bad. Just lots of good!