Soft drinks and their effect on health
Soft drinks contribute significantly to many health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. Research has shown that drinking a can of soda can have harmful effects on the body within an hour.
The effect of soft drinks on dental health
Dental caries is a multifactorial disease affected by several factors including saliva flow and composition, fluoride exposure, consumption of dietary sugars, and oral hygiene practices. Soft drinks contain large amounts of sucrose or high fructose corn syrup; A 350ml can of regular soda contains about 10 teaspoons (40g) of these sugars. Long-term and frequent consumption of soft drinks that are high in sugar can lead to tooth decay. Several studies have shown a positive relationship between tooth decay and soft drink intake. The greatest risk of developing caries in children is associated with consuming soft drinks between meals rather than during them.
High calories
In soft drinks, each gram of sugar contains 4 calories. In addition, they provide only energy and have little nutritional benefit. In scientific studies, higher consumption of soft drinks was associated with lower consumption of milk, calcium, fruits, and dietary fiber that contribute to an overall poor diet. A higher intake of soft drinks during adolescence was associated with significantly lower consumption of soft drinks. Significant with low bone mineral density among 12- and 15-year-old girls. Calcium is mainly found in dairy products and is an essential nutrient for the skeletal integrity of bones and for maintaining bone density throughout life. While soft drinks contain mostly empty calories
Diabetes risk
A study by the American Diabetes Association reports that consuming one or more cans of soft drinks per day increases the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and type 2 diabetes by 67%. Also, drinking one can of a diet per week has been linked to a 70% increased risk of diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of sugar per day for women and no more than 36 grams of sugar per day for men. Therefore, your body will enter much more sugar than it needs when drinking soft drinks!
So don't even think about drink diet sodas too!
Not only that, but one study suggests they may change how your brain reacts to food cravings.
To help get rid of everyday soft drinks, try replacing them with some alternatives:
* Try sparkling water to imitate bubbles from your favorite soft drink.
* Drink water with slices of cucumber, kiwi or strawberry.
* Freeze the fruit in ice cubes and add it to the water for extra sweetness.
Enjoy a cup of black coffee, green or black tea to get your caffeine fix.
* Drink chamomile or lemon tea if you feel nervous.
Sip hibiscus tea throughout the day if you have high blood pressure. This may help you to better control your blood pressure.
