7 Side Issues Of Soft Drinks On Your Health

Carbonated soft drinks are quite fashionable. Many people have gotten so-used to popping a bottle (of beverage or soda) with each meal. It could become a habit. One could get increasingly addicted to these beverages.

Truth be told, there's just something about carbonated drinks that we all love-- its fizzy and bubbly goodness. Arguably, there is a substantial amount of sugar in these drinks that make them taste even better. It quenches our thirst and fills us up with joy every time we drink a can of soda. There is nothing like a glass of carbonated drink to cool us down on a hot and humid day.

To be in perspective, it is imperative that we first understand what a carbonated drink is. Carbonated drink is a drink that bubbles and fizzes with carbon dioxide gas when shaken. The process by which the gas dissolves in the drink is known as carbonation. This process can occur naturally, such as in naturally carbonated mineral water that absorbs carbon dioxide from the ground, or by man-made processes, as is the case in most soft drinks and soda waters. This involves pumping carbon dioxide into the drink at high pressure, then sealing the container. Since the solubility of carbon dioxide is less at lower pressure, the dissolved gas escapes as bubbles when the container is opened and the pressure is relieved.

Carbonated drinks are also known as 'soft drinks' and ingredients in these drinks are usually deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration, these beverages may have some striking side effects, especially if you consume them on a regular basis. Getting to know the palpable negative effects of carbonated drinks can help you make informed nutrition choices.

Here are 7 negative effects of carbonated drinks

1. Obesity

Once we say obesity, one striking thing comes to mind- 'Calories'. Calories are units of food energy. Consuming sugar-sweetened, carbonated drinks adds calories to your diet, which may increase your risk of overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis (a joint disease which occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. pain.).

2. Continued Belching and Heartburn

From our initial definition of Carbonated beverages, we established that this drinks contain dissolved carbon dioxide, which becomes a gas when it warms to body temperature in your stomach. Consuming carbonated soft drinks may cause repeated belching as your stomach stretches from the accumulation of carbon dioxide gas. Food and stomach acid may come up your food pipe as you belch, causing heartburn and a sour taste in your mouth.

3. Nutritional deficiencies

Regular intake of carbonated soft drinks can adversely affect your overall nutrient intake. Drinking these beverages may reduce your consumption of proteins, starch, dietary fiber and vitamin B-2. People who drink carbonated beverages also tend to eat less fruit and drink less fruit juice compared to those who do not drink sodas. Live fruits are far reaching than flavoured fruit drinks.

4. Bad Teeth

High consumption of carbonated soft drinks can harm your teeth leading to tooth decay. Your mouth contains bacteria that feed on sugar, producing chemicals that can break down the hard enamel of your teeth. A cavity forms when erosion of the enamel exposes the soft, inner core of your tooth. When you drink sweetened, carbonated soda, the sugar remains in your mouth, promoting the processes that lead to tooth decay. The acid in these carbonated drinks further increase the likelihood of developing cavities, because these chemicals also slowly erode the enamel of your teeth.

5. Reduced Bone Strength 

If you are a woman, consumption of cola-type, carbonated drinks may reduce your bone strength. It was reported that women who consume carbonated beverages tend to have weaker hipbones compared to those who do not drink them. Some medical experts have argued that the degree of bone weakness correlates to the amount of cola consumed.

6. Diabetes

Soft drinks are drinks that typically contains carbonated water, a sweetener, and a natural or artificial flavoring. The sweetener may be sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, sugar substitutes (in the case of diet drinks), or some combination of these. Sugary drinks increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health issues.

People who consume sugary drinks regularly 1 to 2 cans a day or more have a 26% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who rarely have such drinks.

7. Heart disease

People who drink a lot of sugary drinks often tend to weigh more and eat less healthfully than people who don’t drink sugary drinks. Weighing too much, or simply eating too many calories, may only partly explain the relationship between sugary drinks and heart disease.

The adverse effects of the high glycemic load from these beverages on blood glucose, cholesterol fractions, and inflammatory factors probably is a major contributory factor to the higher risk of heart disease.