Soft Drinks - Hard Facts

Soft drinks are today's trend or much better, you can call them 'fashion' especially among the youth. Do you know that this colorful liquid does not do a bit good to you?

Soft drinks are everywhere you look today. From vending machines to school canteens to TV ads or giant billboards as you drive to work, it's hard for you (or your kids) to escape them. Recently, with concerns over childhood obesity, they've been deemed to be a bit too "cool for school" and most dentists will warn you of the effect of their acid and sugar on teeth. But what are the nutrition issues for adults? And what should you really choose to get your fizz?

Just think before you gulp down soft drink, what are you consuming? Scientific studies reveal that 1 to 1.5 liters of soft drinks a day can raise risks of numerous health problems, such as: To help separate fact from fiction,lets review the latest scientific findings, be forewarned, however: The results can be a lot like soft drinks themselves, both sweet and sticky.
Obesity:

Soft drinks are mainly composed of filtered H2O, artificial additives and refined sugar. Thus, they lack nutritional value and only add up calories through their refined sugar; therefore, they make you gain weight. But is shifting to "Diet Soft Drink" the solution? The fact is that diet soft drinks contain aspartame (an artificial low-calorie sweetener). Although aspartame does not add up the calories it makes you feel hungrier and crave for food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer allows foods containing aspartame to be labeled as "weight reduction product ". Now it insists to label these products simply as "Diet Drink" or "Diet Food ". Research also shows that aspartame causes migraines, dizziness and more over it reduces your memory.

Tooth Decay:

Sugar isn't the only ingredient in soft drinks that causes tooth problems(like caries). The acids in soda pop are also notorious for etching tooth enamel in ways that can lead to cavities. Acid begins to dissolve tooth enamel in only 20 minutes.Phosphoric acid, present in carbonated drinks is violently poisonous, it de-oxidizes blood. In detergent manufacturing industries, phosphoric acid is used to produce water softener. Water softener removes Ca²+ and Mg²+ ion from hard water. In human body, the function remains the same by removing Ca²+ from bones causing osteoporosis (porous bones).

Effect of Caffeine:

In most of carbonated beverages, caffeine is deliberately added to make it addictive. Caffeine in carbonated drink is more readily absorbed than any other drink (like coffee, chocolate etc.). Caffeine disturbs sleep by stimulating nervous system. It also makes premenstrual syndrome worse, causes dehydration and induces stomach to produce acids, aggravating hyperacidity. Since caffeine disturbs sleep, the body is more likely to produce C - reactive protein, which plays an important role in heart disease.

Bone risks?

There are also studies showing that cola drinks may lead to a decrease in bone density in women. The researchers have found that this is not due to women having lower calcium intakes from less milk consumption or due to the caffeine in soft drinks causing bone mineral loss. It's thought that it may in fact be due to phosphoric acid in cola drinks which is thought to interfere with bone absorption of calcium. Phosphoric acid, present in carbonated drinks is violently poisonous, it de-oxidizes blood. In detergent manufacturing industries, phosphoric acid is used to produce water softener. Water softener removes Ca²+ and Mg²+ ion from hard water. In human body, the function remains the same by removing Ca²+ from bones causing osteoporosis (porous bones).

Malnutrition:

Some people who are addicted to soft drinks deprive themselves from food until they become victims of malnutrition. Since gastrointestinal disturbance of these drinks lead to poor appetite thus surviving on soft drinks and little amount of food will cause malnutrition, retarded growth and other physiological problems.

Effect on Gastro-Intestinal System:

When you open the bottle of a soft drink, bubbles and fizz are immediately emitted out. This is due to phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide (CO2) content, which make these drinks highly acidic. The pH of soft drink ranges from 2.5-3.4 which generates a highly acidic environment in the stomach. Throughout the digestive system, that starts from the mouth and ends up at the anus (liver, gallbladder and pancreas play the role of accessory organs) only the stomach can resist an acidic environment up to pH 2.0. But before the acidity of soft drink reaches the stomach it passes through all the other organs involved in the digestive system thus causing an abnormal acidic environment. Hence the linings of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus are highly sensitive to acids. Also there is a very common practice of taking soft drinks when a person suffers from acidity or after having a heavy meal. However, this is wrong. The phosphoric acid present in soft drink competes with the hydrochloric acid of the stomach and affects its functions. When the stomach becomes ineffective, food remains undigested causing indigestion, gassiness or bloating (swelling of stomach). Thus people who are suffering from acidity should not be drinking soft drinks because actually it increases acidity further.

Effect on Kidneys:

Kidneys are less able to excrete phosphoric acid when it is in excess. Thus, there is extra work for kidney. Soft drinks remove Calcium from the body, causing an excess amount of Calcium that tend to be deposited in kidney, resulting in nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). Effect on Skin: Acidic blood affects the action of glutathione, which is an antioxidant enzyme. In addition, these drinks lack vitamins and minerals. By taking these drinks, people cut their intake of fresh juices, milk and even water and deprive themselves from essential vitamins and minerals that are mandatory for skin. Thus, the skin becomes more prone to wrinkles and aging.

Top choice?
Water is still the one, however, with zero sugar and virtually no kilojoules, while diet or "no sugar".

Prevention:

Use straw to reduce direct contact with teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking aerated drink. Or simply do not drink soft drinks.

Remember that diseases do not develop overnight but do develop over the years with improper dietary habits. Also each individual has different tolerance level. So think of all long term effects on your body. The multitude side effects depend on your genetics and an individual's physical strength. Chronic illnesses are not a direct cause but they are triggered or worsened by bad food habits.