To drink or not to drink? That is the question.
So you’re out on your lunch break ordering a nutritious and healthy meal, when asked a question, ‘Would you like a drink with that?’ Where’s the harm in ordering a soda? It tastes good, so it must be O.K for you to drink. Or, to cut calories just order a diet. With all the hype about how bad it is for you, eh, they are probably just myths, right? Well, maybe we should look at a few of the ingredients that are inside what you have possibly been drinking.
In case you didn’t know, one can of soda has the equivalent of 10 tsp of sugar. The sugar increases your insulin level that can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney failure, anxiety, and weight gain.
Caramel coloring is a man made chemical. It can cause high blood pressure. It is a result of heating sugars with acids and ammonium compounds under high temperatures. In a study of mice it was found that it might cause lung, liver, and thyroid cancer.
High fructose corn syrup, when used in moderation can be a major cause in weight gain and obesity, heart disease, liver failure, plaque buildup, insulin resistance and possibly more.
Phosphoric acid, you know, what gives the soda its fizz? It can interfere with the way your body uses calcium. Weakening your bones and muscles and corrodes teeth and enamel. It can make you feel weak and dizzy. Over a period of time can also cause chronic dehydration.
Sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate are preservatives found in processed foods and beverages to protect the taste and freshness. It has the ability to kill fungi and bacteria and to prevent mold in the drink. If you have asthma, be careful because it can lead to an asthmatic attack. Too much sodium in your diet can cause hypertension or high blood pressure, which can increase your risk of kidney disease, heart disease and strokes.
Citric acid is a natural preservative that can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. It is often used to add a sour taste to food and soft drinks. When too much citric acid is consumed, it can cause some problems like stomach pains or cramping, diarrhea, nausea and increased sweating.
Artificial coloring is something to be very careful about. They are chemicals that do not come from nature. Their problems can range from causing hyperactivity in some children to allergic reactions and even can cause certain types of cancer. You will see them labeled as Red 40, Yellow 6, Green 3, Blue 1 and Blue 2.
Caffeine is a stimulant drug. It causes you to become dehydrated and places stress on your heart, making the nervous system work harder then it needs to. Be careful, because most diet sodas have caffeine in them.
And how about the Natural Flavors? Sounds pretty safe right? But when knowing what else is inside soda, and all of the other chemicals and coloring, how natural can natural be? Natural flavors are man-made additives. It’s purely for taste alone. But honestly, they aren’t looking for nutritional value when adding this in. It is probably a far fetch from what the actual ‘natural’ ingredient should be. Yes, natural ingredients may be natural, but what goes in to making the taste could be anywhere from dairy products to meat, from spices to plant material. Mix it all together and what do you get? Natural flavors.
So maybe diet soda, since it has no calories, is better for you? Well, maybe think again. Studies have found that people who drink diet soda can actually start to gain weight. Don’t forget what takes sugars’ place in the diet soda, Aspartame. Aspartame is a chemical; it is used as a substitute in multiple things because it makes them have a longer taste. It also doubles under such names as ‘AminoSweet’ , ‘NutraSweet’ and ‘Equal’. But the danger comes into play when it enters into your body. There are many side effects to digesting this chemical, (around 90) and only to name a few, dizziness, headaches, depression, irritability, insomnia, shortness of breath, nausea, etc…
A soda here and there will not kill you, but these are the side effects of having a long-term relationship with soda. So maybe the next time you’re thinking about ordering a soda, try sticking with good old H2O. If you want to spice things up a bit, how about asking for some lemon slices on the side.
- Erin Elizabeth
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