Overview:
Soft drinks have become a ubiquitous part of modern life, offering a fizzy, sweet escape from thirst. Yet, beneath their enticing bubbles lie potential health risks that many overlook.
On average, Americans consume more than 50 gallons of carbonated soft drinks each year, according to the 2005 USDA report.
In this blog, we explore the often-hidden side effects of soft drinks, from their impact on dental health to broader implications for overall well-being.
Table of Contents
Side effects of soft drinks:
1. Tooth Decay:
Your mouth contains a lot of bad bacteria which thrive on sugar. Soft drinks contain a lot of sugar which provides easily digestible energy to bacteria.
These bacteria use sugar and produce harmful chemicals that can break down the hard enamel of your teeth. When erosion of the enamel reaches the soft, inner core of your teeth, it forms a cavity.
Apart from sugar, most soft drinks contain acids such as carbonic acid, and phosphoric acid which also damage your enamel.
Thus, both sugars and acids present in the soft drink can lead to dental problems.
2. Obesity:
Soft drinks are packed with added sugar which contains fructose. Fructose doesn’t reduce the hunger hormone (ghrelin) or make you feel full.
Soft drinks contain no fiber, so your body easily digests it and you will feel hungry soon. Therefore, consuming soft drinks regularly can lead to obesity.
3. Non-alcoholic fatty liver:
Soft drinks contain sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup which are made from glucose and fructose.
Sucrose can be metabolized by every cell in your body, whereas fructose can be metabolized by only one organ that is from your liver.
So your liver gets overloaded and turns the fructose into fat. Some of the fats come out as blood triglycerides, while some part of it stays in your liver leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
4. Type 2 Diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin.
Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas gland situated in your liver that is responsible for the movement of sugar(glucose) from your blood to your body’s cells.
Regular consumption of sugary soft drinks increases sugar levels in your blood, so your body releases more insulin to drive sugar from your blood to your cells. Over time, your body becomes resistant to insulin, leading to type 2 diabetes.
One can (368 grams) of cola soft drink contains 39 grams of sugar which is more than the daily recommended value.
5. Heart Disease:
Taking high-sugar-content foods or beverages such as soft drinks can lead to increased triglycerides in your body.
Triglycerides are a type of lipid (fat), circulating in the blood, that can increase the risk of heart disease including stroke, and heart attack by hardening the arteries or thickening artery walls.
High sugar intake can also promote chronic inflammation, which puts stress on the blood vessels and heart, leading to heart disease.
6. Cancer:
High consumption of a sugary diet increases the level of insulin in the body.
Clinical evidence suggests that high levels of insulin can lead to several types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
One study of over 60,000 adults discovered that those who drank 2 or more sugary drinks per week were 87% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who did not drink soda.
7. Poor Nutrition:
Soft drinks don’t contain any essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and fiber. It gives you nothing except a high amount of sugars that drive several health issues.
The Bottom Line:
The allure of soft drinks often masks their potential health consequences. From dental decay and weight gain to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart diseases, these beverages present significant risks when consumed excessively.
Recognizing these side effects of soft drinks empowers us to make informed choices about our beverage consumption, opting for healthier alternatives that support our overall well-being.
By prioritizing moderation and awareness, we can enjoy refreshments without compromising our health in the long run.
FAQs:
What does happen when you drink soft drinks every day?
Soft drinks contain high amounts of sugar, so consuming soft drinks frequently can lead to several diseases including dental problems, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
How many soft drinks are okay?
The daily recommended value of sugar for adults is 30 grams. However, most soft drinks contain sugar even more than the daily recommended value.
For example, one can (368 g) of cola soft drinks contains 39 grams of sugar. If you have consumed one can of it, you have crossed your daily sugar limit.
Therefore, avoid consuming soft drinks regularly. You should drink it occasionally.
What are the 7 side effects of soft drinks?
The seven side effects of soft drinks include tooth decay, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and poor nutrition.
