Harmful Effects Of Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are among the most popular beverages worldwide. From house parties to big social gatherings, they are often the preferred choice for millions due to widespread urbanisation and beverage marketing.

However, everyone is only focusing on the taste and neglecting the fact that these drinks can be really bad for health. Here, we will understand the harmful effects of soft drinks, the risks they pose and their long-term effects on overall health.

Let's begin!

Understanding the Risks

When added sugar is consumed excessively, it can adversely affect one's health, and the results are by far the worst in soft drinks.

The amount of sugar in these drinks is way higher, more than an individual should have in a single day. It's like drinking a big gulp of sweetness.

Now, the question is, how sweet is it?

A single teaspoon or tb/sp contains 4.2 grams of sugar. Now, imagine 7 to 10 teaspoons full of sugar in a 12-ounce glass of water.

You must be surprised to know that the number you have imagined is the amount of sugar added to the typical can of soda.

Also, it is really acidic and can negatively impact health.

Want to know those impacts? Keep reading!

Health Impacts of Soft Drink Consumption

Let's break down the harmful effects of soft drink consumption on health.

• Weight gain: When you consume sugary drinks, you're essentially adding extra calories to your diet, which unfortunately results in increased weight. According to some reports, people who drink these cans of soft drinks are more likely to gain weight than people who don’t.
• Increased diabetes risk: Type 2 Diabetes affects millions of people out there. But do you know how this disease occurs? Elevated blood sugar results from insulin resistance or deficiency. Excessive soft drink consumption causes insulin resistance, which in turn becomes the reason for type 2 diabetes.
• Fatty liver: The two main components of refined sugar are Glucose and Fructose. When you consume too many soft drinks, the liver becomes overloaded or surcharged and turns the fructose into fat, which accumulates over there. This results in severe fatty liver diseases.
• Dental decay: Soft drinks are acidic because they contain phosphoric and carbonic acids. As soon as you drink, these create a highly acidic environment in your mouth, which becomes the reason behind tooth decay.
  However, the acids in soda are more than enough to cause damage, but when combined with sugar, the results become even worse. How? Because sugar behaves like a magnet for bad bacteria and provides digestible energy, it wreaks havoc on dental health over time.
• Heart disease risk: This is one of the most harmful effects of soft drinks on the human body. High sugar intake has a direct effect on the heart, which significantly increases the risk for heart diseases like blood triglycerides, high blood sugar, and others.
  According to a 20-year study of 40,000 men, it is found that the ones who drank soft drinks tend to have 20% more chances of having — or dying from — a heart attack compared to the ones who consume rarely.

Exploring the Science: How Soft Drinks Affect Your Body

Soft drinks have no essential ingredients, no vitamins, no minerals, and no fibre as well. All they have is loads and loads of sugar!

When consumed, the sugar in these drinks rapidly spikes blood glucose levels, leading to a surge in insulin production. This constant cycle can disrupt metabolism and contribute to insulin resistance over time.

The Hidden Ingredients: What You Need to Know

Some of the hidden ingredients of soft drinks include:

• Water
• Carbon dioxide
• Sweetener
• Flavorings
• Colouring agents
• Caffeine
• Acidulants
• Antioxidants
• Chemical preservatives

Rethinking Your Beverage Choices

Considering the impact and harms of soft drinks can have on your health, it's worth taking a moment to reassess your choices.

• Go for healthier alternatives, such as water, herbal teas, or freshly squeezed juices made with whole fruits and vegetables. (best if made at home).
• Water is the best replacement for sugary drinks. To keep your body hydrated, drink at least 3 to 4 litres of water daily.

If soft drinks are your regular go-to choices, it may be a little bit difficult to cut them off. But of course, it's not an impossible task; take small steps, and you will definitely see the change.

Impact on Overall Health: Beyond Just Sugar

Though we often discuss the harms of sugar in soft drinks, there's a lot more to the story than just sugar. When you drink these sodas regularly, they can mess with your body in some serious ways. So, think twice before reaching that can of soda just for the sake of taste.

Expert Insights: Perspectives on Soft Drink Health Risks

Here are some expert insights on the harmful effects of soft drinks on the human body!

According to Ruchi Kapoor, M.D., PhD, cardiologist, UW Medicine and volunteer medical expert from the American Heart Association, “Sugary drinks are the No. 1 source of added sugars in our diet; those extra calories add up and generally aren’t as satisfying as calories you get from actual food – so you may end up eating more calories than you actually need.”

Dr Shelina Visram, Senior Lecturer in Public Health from Fuse, said, “We are deeply concerned about the findings that energy drinks can lead to psychological distress and issues with mental health. These are important public health concerns that need to be addressed."

Conclusion

It's pretty clear that sugary drinks must be avoided if you care for your health. Switch to healthier alternatives and give your body the real care it deserves!

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