Are There Any Bad Effects of Soft Drinks? Different Healthy Soft Drink Alternatives

Are There Any Bad Effects of Soft Drinks? Different Healthy Soft Drink Alternatives
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Enjoying a can of soft drink on a hot sunny day may be a perfect way to quench your thirst, but did you know that these “cool” carbonated drinks can cause immense harm to your body? According to the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, an average Joe consumes 50 gallons of soft drink annually in United States alone. The consumption of soda pops and other carbonated beverages have doubled since 1970s.

Effects of Soft Drinks on Teenagers and Kids

While carbonated soft drinks are also available with non-caloric sweeteners, they are quite high in acids. Take the example of a diet soda. Though it does not contain any sugars, the artificial sweeteners have shown to develop high levels of methanol. This component can cause liver and bladder disorders as well cancer. Some soft drinks contain pH of 3.0 or even lesser. The bad effects of soft drinks are many, some leading to childhood obesity and calcium deficiency. Here are some more negative effects of soft drinks:

Soft Drinks and Weight Gain: Even Soft Drinks with No-Calorie Sweeteners Can Induce Weight Gain

We all know that carbonated drinks sweetened with sugars can lead to weight gain among kids and teenagers. But, studies have also shown a significant link between weight gain and soft drinks containing no-calorie sweeteners. An experiment conducted by Purdue University psychologists confirms this claim.

The negative health effects of soft drinks sweetened by simple sugars such as fructose can also lead to weight-related conditions including heart problems and high blood pressure.

Dental Problems:

The high content of simple sugars in soft drinks can result in tooth decay. The bacteria present in your mouth ferment carbohydrate and simple sugars to produce acid, which leads to dental decay and breaks up tooth enamel. Moreover, acidic soft drinks like colas have a higher tendency to dissolve tooth enamel. These soft drinks have a lower pH count (3.0) and should be avoided by kids. Doctors suggest avoiding brushing teeth right after consuming acidic soft drinks because it leads to extreme erosion to the tooth enamel.

Zero Nutritional Value:

Soft drinks do not contain any nutritive qualities. They contain minimum or zero fiber, proteins, vitamins and other important nutrients.

Some Great Soft Drink Alternatives

In order to avoid any bad effects of soft drinks on the body, consider healthy alternatives to soft drinks. However, that does not mean you consume energy drinks or commercial fruit punches as they can be equally harmful for your body. Here are some cool soft drink alternatives:

  • A natural fruit punch made from a blend organically grown fruits can be a perfect answer to a hot summer afternoon.

  • Ice cold green tea can be a good choice if you are looking for healthy soft drink alternatives.

  • You can also opt for raw carrot juice or any other healthy vegetable juice that suits your health profile.

  • You can also have moderate amounts of calcium-rich foods like yoghurt as one of the best alternatives for those soft drinks.

References

https://yaleruddcenter.org/what_we_do.aspx?id=98

https://www.waterforlifeusa.com/blog/uncategorized/8-ways-soda-fizzles-your-health/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_drink