Soft drinks are marketed as cool, youth-centric drinks that refresh and energize you. Parties and celebrations are incomplete without fizzy colas. A majority of consumers also use these as mixers for alcohol, while others have come up with innovative mocktails like Roy Rogers and desserts like Ice Cream Floats. But when we conduct beverage research, especially from the nutritional point of view, multiple health flags need to be addressed. Irrespective of the trendy marketing and celebrity endorsements, the excessive consumption of sugary sodas can cause serious health implications.
Here are five adverse effects witnessed in habitual sugary soda consumers, as studied by acclaimed nutritionists and fitness experts:-
Table of Contents
Increased risk of diabetes
Beverage research shows that a single can of any sugary soda (330 ml) contains almost ten teaspoons of sugar! As you guzzle down can after can on a hot summer afternoon, you might feel quenched. But inside your body, this whopping sugar intake is wreaking havoc with your blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. This increases the risk of chronic ailments like Type 2 Diabetes in the long run.
Higher obesity rates
Sugary sodas are amongst the top causes of childhood and teenage obesity worldwide. With the kind of high blood sugar levels spiked by aerated drinks, some of the sucrose gets stored in the liver as fat. With regular consumption, the body fat increases, and so does the onset of fatty liver condition. Higher obesity and excess belly fat lead to cardiovascular disorders in the long run.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Not many people know that phosphoric acid is added to sugary sodas for a crucial purpose. It is to prevent the consumer from throwing up, with the kind of sugar overload it is naturally supposed to induce. Now, this phosphoric acid disturbs the gut biome and is therefore detrimental to your gastrointestinal health. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide bubbles cause bloating and worsen the condition leading to chronic irritable bowel syndrome.
No nutritional value and no satiation either
Despite having a massively high calorific content, the nutritional value provided by sugary colas is zero. These ultra-processed drinks contain no vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, or essential fats. On top of that, you do not feel full or satiated after drinking sugary sodas. So it is pretty habitual for youngsters to keep gulping these without even realizing how many empty calories they are consuming.
Frequent consumption can lead to gout
Gout is the condition wherein the joints undergo inflammation due to the excessive deposits of uric acid. While nutrition and food industry trends have conventionally associated gout with frequent red meat consumption, modern research cites the direct link between the high fructose content in sugary colas and excess uric acid production in the body. Habitual cola consumers are thus found to suffer from gout.
Ending on a positive note
Beverage and Food Industry Trends are subject to constant fluctuation based on multiple factors. Often, products are marketed in enticing ways but do not reveal the health hazards associated with their regular consumption. As consumers, we need to limit our intake of these sugary drinks. The good news is that there are multiple healthy alternatives to these sugar-laden drinks today.
Beverage manufacturers have responded well to the increasing health-consciousness worldwide. Some of the most popular alternatives include stevia-sweetened colas, sugar-free juices, organic herbal drinks, stevia-sweetened iced tea and coffee, coconut water, cold-pressed vegetable juices, and so on. Furthermore, gym enthusiasts can indulge in renowned energy drinks and fresh smoothies. Last but not least, gut health is back in trend with fermented lemonade, whey sodas, Kombucha, and Kefir making a comeback.
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