Carbonated drinks or fizzy beverages that are also referred to as sodas or colas are among the most popular beverages which are consumed in the modern world.
Although having a carbonated beverage may provide consumers with several momentary pleasures, changes in the human body may occur. Nevertheless, some causes and effects of these products imply that it is better to exclude them from your diet.
Five Reasons to Avoid Carbonated Drinks
1. High Sugar Content
Despite their availability and popularity, the negative effects of carbonated drinks cannot be overlooked particularly due to high sugar levels. Most preferred sodas have high sugar content, which finally leads to obesity, diabetes, and other heart problems.
Carbonated drinks, which contain an excessive amount of sugar, are very hazardous as they can lead to energy slumps and more sugar cravings. The high sugar content in these carbonated products is also substituted by synthetic sugar.
These additives have been associated with various diseases such as metabolic syndrome diseases, other diseases relating to gastrointestinal tracts, and increased appetite for sweet foods. Further, the artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives used in the production of carbonated drinks may indeed pose adverse health repercussions.
2. Acidic Nature
Soft drinks are usually acidic. These include carbonated drinks with components in them such as carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, or citric acid. Intake of acidic products will slowly result in loss of the outer covering on the teeth, thereby leading to tooth decay and cavities among other mouth complications.
Besides, the number of acids present in carbonated beverages also makes it possible for consumers to suffer from Barrett’s oesophagus, acid reflux and indigestion.
3. Dehydration
Contrary to expectations, carbonated drinks are dehydrating. Caffeinated sodas often possess a diuretic effect and put the body in a state of losing more fluids by encouraging frequent urination. Therefore, while having such drinks may help to reduce your uptake of water from other sources, having carbonated beverages often to tackle the problem of dehydration is counterproductive as it will leave you even more dehydrated than before.
4. Other Health Risks
It is well-known that the frequent intake of carbonated beverages is connected with numerous detrimental effects excluding the tendency toward weight gain and oral cavity problems. Several researchers have postulated correlations between the regular consumption of soda and other diseases such as metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease.
The consumption of artificial sweeteners, and additives contained in diet sodas is also a subject of concern as to an extent they may pose some harm to the body. Sodas are well known for being ‘energy dense’ products which provide calories but other than that, they do not possess ideal nutrients such as macronutrients and micronutrients.
These often contain calories with little nutritional value and thus when consumed you feel hungry again after a while and need to take some more food to fill the hunger thus leading to addiction and health problems such as obesity, diabetes and malnutrition, respectively.
5. Environmental Impact
Carbonated beverage production and disposal have caused pollution and waste that are detrimental to the environment. The direct impacts include the consumption of water and energy in the process of manufacturing and the packaging material (plastic bottles or aluminum cans) creates problems with waste that can end up in a landfill or a waterway.
There is no doubt that when people consume fewer carbonated drinks, they can help prevent the degradation of the environment and may promote sustainable practices.
Conclusion
Even though carbonated drinks are tasty and make people feel relieved when taking them, they come with serious demerits.
To this end, if you would like to cut down or completely reduce on these products, you should know that you are making a prudent decision that is beneficial to your health. Anyone intending to go for a healthier future by embracing healthy dietary practices while at the same time embracing good hydration habits and adequate hydration practices, should replace risky beverages such as the ones above with the aged-old fluids which include water, herbal teas, milk or fruit juice.
Encouraging good oral hygiene habits may reduce the effects of negative impacts that carbonated drinks have on human health. If more people were to be better informed when it comes to the things that they choose to put inside their mouths and consume, the world would be a much more healthier place.
Read also: Ways To Promote Eating In Children.