Ill effects of sweetened carbonated drinks or sodas
If you are one of those who think drinking one can of sweetened carbonated drink is ok for your health, think again. Acquainting yourself with the possible harmful effects of carbonated drinks can help you make educated nutrition choices and change your lifestyle. Carbonated drinks do not have any nutritional value but sugar and empty calories which end up harming your body.
Here is what our expert says
Sweetened carbonated water is advertised as an instant energizer because of its glucose content which is the simplest form of energy, and spikes up blood glucose levels. Because it causes a sudden swing in blood sugar levels it is highly addictive for the brain and leads to an increase in insulin, which in turn acts to reduce blood sugar, causing sugar highs and crashes.
Result in tooth decay
Drinking lots of soda can harm your teeth as the acid content can decay the enamel of the tooth resulting in cavities. Soda promotes tooth decay as the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar that is left by the drinks. They produce chemicals that break down the enamel exposing the inner core of tooth. Carbonated drinks could also turn your teeth yellow.
Reduced bone strength
Drinking too much soda can weaken your bones by affecting the level of calcium in your body. Calcium is responsible for keeping your bones and teeth healthy and strong. There is a high content of phosphoric acid in soft drinks, which increases the level of phosphate in your bloodstream. This soaks up calcium from your bones resulting in decreased bone density, osteoporosis, and fractures.
May lead to weight gain
Carbonated drinks or aerated drinks contain a lot of added sugar which adds calories to your diet, increasing your risk of obesity. Obesity is a substantial risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. Fructose is linked to a significant increase in visceral fat or belly fat, a hazardous type of fat related to metabolic diseases.
Increased risk of diabetes
High sugar intake increases the risk of diabetes, and sodas don't have any nutritional value, just sugar. This is why too much soda consumption pushes you toward type 2 diabetes. A recent study, which perceived sugar consumption and diabetes in 175 countries, concluded that for every 150 calories of sugar a day the risk of type 2 diabetes increases by 1.1%.
Increased risk of heart diseases
Obesity and type-2 diabetes are markers for cardiovascular diseases. Those who drink sodas regularly have a higher chance of getting a heart attack. A study conducted over 20 years in 40,000 men found that those who had one sugary drink a day were at a 20% higher risk of having, or dying from a heart attack, as compared to those who seldom had those.
