Soft drinks (also referred to as carbonated drinks and minerals) are the go-to thirst quenchers around the world. A soft drink usually contains water (often carbonated), a sweetener, and a natural and/or artificial flavouring. Research has it that carbonated drinks contain high amounts of sugar, chemicals, and gas that become a threat to your well-being. It is important that you get yourself familiar with the effects of carbonated drinks, so that the next time you feel the urge to have a drink, you have an idea what it does to your body.
1. Weight Gain
Sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with weight gain. Sugary drinks do not fill you up as quickly as solid foods do, so it is easy to take in more calories than you really need. They cause your blood sugar to rise and fall quickly. This makes you feel hungry sooner and causes you to eat more. Even drinks such as chocolate milk and juice, which are sometimes thought to be healthy, contain a lot of calories and can cause weight gain. People who have BMI, compared to those with healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions. Also, high consumption of fructose, a major ingredient in soft drinks, makes you accumulate belly fat, a dangerous type of fat linked to metabolic disease.
2. Bad for your Liver
The average soda contains a sweeter called high fructose corn syrup. Sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup are about 50% fructose, which can only be metabolized by your liver. Excessive
amounts may contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Too much sugar may lead to a fatty build-up which may be harmful to the liver, it overwhelms the liver. If you’re drinking a lot of soda, it could also lead to insulin resistance: this is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose from your blood, and this will lead to pre-diabetes.
3. Diabetes
A study found that people who consumed one or more sugar-sweetened drinks every day had a higher risk for diabetes than those who drank less than one a month. Drinking too many sweetened drinks means that the body stores excess energy in the form of fat, so, drinking too much soda can play a part in the development of obesity and/or increased weight. In turn, research has shown that this is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Sugary beverages add to the overall daily intake of calories. The increase in calories leads to an increase in weight. This often leaves a person susceptible to diabetes and other diseases as well.
4. Bad for your Teeth
Soft drink consumption is one of several leading causes of tooth decay. Carbonation, sugar and acids in soft drinks weaken tooth enamel and encourage the growth of bacteria that contribute to tooth decay. We can avoid this by drinking carbonated drinks in moderation and using a straw. We should also get regular dental checkups and clean-ups.
5. Sugar Addiction
Sugary soda is an addictive substance. Sugar fuels every cell in the brain. Your brain also sees sugar as a reward, which makes you keep wanting more of it. If you often eat a lot of sugar, you’re reinforcing that reward, which can make it tough to break the habit. Reducing your sugar intake can be a positive step toward improving your overall health. Eating less sugar can also improve anxiety and stress, reduce fatigue, ease joint pain, and cut down on headaches and migraines. Each time you crave a sugary drink take water instead, this can help.
6. Heart disease
Sugar intake has long been linked to heart disease risk. As mentioned earlier, high amounts of sugar overload the liver. Over time, this can lead to a greater accumulation of fat, which may turn into fatty liver disease, a contributor to diabetes, which raises your risk for heart disease. Also, consuming too much-added sugar can raise blood pressure and increase chronic inflammation, both of which are pathological pathways to heart disease.
7. Cancer
While the sugar itself does not directly increase your cancer risk, the excess kilojoules contribute to increased weight and obesity, which are known risk factors for bowel, breast, pancreatic and other cancers. There have also been claims that chemicals in soft drinks can increase cancer risk.
Drink Water Instead
The benefits of drinking water are many. From helping you to improve your physical performance to improving your energy levels and relieving common illnesses like constipation, headaches and more, drinking enough water is essential for your overall physical, emotional and psychological well-being.
It is a proven fact that when you eliminate high-fat and high-sugar foods from your diet it ultimately leads to a healthier life. When you cut down on sugary drinks, which offer you no essential nutrients, vitamins, or minerals, and replace them with water you are able to improve your overall general health.
