We all know how good a cold
drink can be during summer time. Everyone in the 21st century is fond of soft
drinks, sodas and non-alcoholic beverages. We usually say that these help us
digest food. But that is not true. Where these beverages give us delight at the
same time they are affecting our body system. Do you know the extent to which
drinking carbonated, caffeinated, sugared or artificially sweetened beverages
harm your body?
Giving up soft drinks can be the best thing you can do to improve your health.
Here are some reasons why you should give up soft drinks and sodas.
1. THEY ARE USELESS
First of all there are no nutritionally beneficial components. Soft drinks
mostly consist of filtered water and refined sugar.
2. WEIGHT GAIN AND OBESITY
Many people either forget or don’t realize how many extra calories they consume
in what they drink. Drinking single 330 ml can a day of sugary drinks translate
to more than 1 lb of weight gain every month. Several scientific studies have
provided experimental evidence that soft drinks are directly related to weight
gain.
3. DIABETES
Anything that promotes weight gain increases the risk of diabetes. Drinking soda
not only contributes to making people fat, but it also stresses body’s ability
to process sugar. Rapidly absorbed carbohydrates like high fructose, corn syrup
put more strain on insulin producing cells than other foods. When sugar enters
the blood stream quickly, the pancreas has to secrete large amount of insulin
for the body to process it. Some scientists believe that unceasing demands that
a soda habit places on the pancreas may ultimately leave it unable to keep up
with body’s need for insulin. Also, insulin itself becomes less effective at
processing sugar; both conditions contribute to the risk of developing diabetes.
4. KIDNEY DAMAGE
Researches clearly demonstrated that large quantities of cola result in enhanced
kidney stone formation. If you are wondering exactly how soft drinks cause
kidney stones, it’s because of their acidity and radical mineral imbalances.
Your body must buffer the acidity of soft drinks with calcium from own bones. As
this calcium is eliminated through your urine, it slowly forms kidney stone.
5. INSOMNIA
From excessive drinking of soft drinks because of the caffeine in it can cause
person insomnia. There are about 93 milligrams of caffeine in a can of soft
drink, which is about half a cup of coffee and can last for about six hours in
the system. Caffeine as we know it is a stimulant and most people start out the
day with coffee which has much more benefits than a can of soft drink.
Especially for children, caffeine can interfere with brain development. There is
no definitive proof it is always better to be safe than sorry.
6. OSTEOPOROSIS
Calcium becomes problem for regular soft drink consumers. As drinks has no
calcium, that should not be a surprise. The phosphorus in soda weakens the
bones, thus causing easy fractures or even breaking of the bones.
7. DENTAL CARIES AND EROSION
Soft drinks eat up and dissolve the toot enamel. Researches say that soft drinks
are responsible for doubling the incidence of tooth decay.
The acidity can dissolve the mineral content of the enamel, making teeth weaker,
more sensitive and more susceptible to decay. Acidity makes it even worse foe
teeth than the solid sugar found in candy.
8. DEHYDRATION
And this is usually consumed when it is hot and nasty outside. Yes it will
dehydrate your body because off the caffeine and sugar that it contains.
High concentration of sugar is drawing off water because you kidneys try to
expel the excess sugar out of the blood. When you drink a caffeinated soda to
quench your thirst, you actually become thirstier.
THERE ARE SO MANY HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
Soft drinks replace healthier drinks. By drinking soft drinks you cut the intake
of fresh juices, milk and even water and deprive yourself from essential
vitamins and minerals.
· Water, water is the best drink in the world.
· Tea, any kind of tea herbal, green or black is rich in antioxidant.
· Fruit juice can be also useful for flavoring water and teas.