Carbonated soft drink has become a part of our modern diet and lifestyle as it is easily available over the counter. You might have seen almost every party hosted has Carbonated soft drinks in their menu . This excessive consumption had some deleterious effects on health of people especially adolescents . Before consuming it , you must ask yourself “ Is carbonated soft drink bad for you ?
Carbonated water or fizzy drinks originally invented in 18th century contains dissolved carbondioxide (Co2) under pressure. When pressure is released , this dissolved Co2 releases as tiny bubbles giving an appearance of effervescence or fizz .
Soft drinks are also known as carbonated drink, cool drink, cold drink, fizzy drink, fizzy juice, lolly water, pop, seltzer, soda, coke, soda pop, tonic, and mineral. Due to the high sugar content in typical soft drinks, they may also be called sugary drinks.
WHAT DOES CARBONATED SOFT DRINK CONTAIN ?
It consists of Carbonated water + sugar or artificial sweetener + coloring agents + various patented natural or artificial flavorings. Most of them also contains Caffeine.
FACTS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT SOFT DRINKS :
- 1 soda a day leads to a 60% greater chance for a child to grow up to be obese.
- Apart from a quick energy boost from the caffeine or sugar, most soft drinks and soda pop offer little or no nutritional value.
- An 8-oz (237-mL) cola contains about 100 calories
- A diet soft drink, because it is artificially sweetened, is less than 10 calories, although it may have caffeine.
NOTE : A 150-pound person walking at a brisk pace will burn 100 calories in approximately 20 minutes.
HEALTH RISKS OF CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS
A U.S. study published in The Lancet suggests that a soft drink can lead to obesity. Researchers found that for every can or glass of sugar-sweetened beverage a child drank during that time, the child’s body mass index went up and the chances of becoming obese increased 60%.
Consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks can also be associated with many weight-related diseases, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors.
Sodas and fruit-flavored drinks are bad for the teeth. Their sugar encourages the growth of cavity-causing bacteria, and many contain acids that can erode tooth enamel.
1.Using a drinking straw is often advised by dentists as the drink does not come into as much contact with the teeth.
2.Brushing teeth right after drinking soft drinks should be avoided as this can result in additional erosion to the teeth due to the presence of acid.
Colas contain large amounts of phosphates, which may impair calcium absorption. A greater concern is that soft drinks cause a decrease in calcium intake by displacing milk from the diet. Children and adolescents who drink soft drinks instead of milk are missing the calcium critical to the growth of their bones.
High Blood pressure
In adults, excessive caffeine from soft drinks may raise blood pressure and cause irregular heartbeat. People who react to caffeine should choose one of the decaffeinated soft drinks.
NOTE : Also consider that when a 60-lb (27-kg) child drinks a 12-oz (355-mL) cola containing 50 mg of caffeine, he’s getting the equivalent of a couple cups of coffee in a 175-lb (80-kg) man. A child may experience restlessness or sleeplessness after having too much caffeine.
A study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology in 2013 concluded that consumption of soft drinks was associated with a 23% higher risk of developing kidney stones.
ANY HEALTH BENEFITS OF CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS ?
- Suppress Nausea ( sensation of vomiting ) and provide energy to people unable to take solid foods.
- Quick energy Boost from sugar and caffeine.
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