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Could Drinking Soda Kill You?

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American Soda Consumption: Half Of Us Drink It Everyday, Study Says The health hazards of drinking sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and sugary fruit drinks is no secret. In fact, a Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity study found that a majority of Americans understand that soda is bad for them. But despite this, a Gallup poll reveals that 48 percent of surveyed Americans — nearly half! — drink soda on a daily basis. What’s more, among those who drank soda, the average daily intake was 2.6 glasses per day. Rates of soda consumption were higher with young adults — 56 percent of those 18 to 34 admitted to guzzling the sweet stuff. And that shouldn’t come as a total surprise: we already know that soda is the largest source of sugar in the diet of children and adolescents. Of note, though soda consumption is linked to obesity, there was no difference in the self-reported weights of those who drank soda daily and those who did not, reported MSNBC. In both groups, an average 40 percent reported being somewhat or very overweight. The researchers attributed this, to some extent, to the lack of distinction between full-calorie and diet sodas in the survey. But when it comes to sugar sweetened beverages, it isn’t just the additional calories that are problematic. A diet high in added sugar — particularly liquid sugar — has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and with higher rates of Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance and cardiovascular difficulties. And some research suggests that high-fructose corn syrup, the sweetener used in most soda, is particularly associated with increased body fat. As HuffPost Healthy Living blogger Dr. Mark Hyman explained: HFCS is absorbed more rapidly than regular sugar, and it doesn’t stimulate insulin or leptin production. This prevents you from triggering the body’s signals for being full and may lead to over consumption of total calories. Sugary Drinks Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the obesity epidemic. The term “soft drink” refers to any beverage with added sugar or other sweetener, and includes soda, fruit punch, lemonade and other “ades,” sweetened powdered drinks, and sports and energy drinks. People who drink sugary beverages do not feel as full as if they had eaten the same calories from solid food, and studies show that people consuming sugary beverages don’t compensate for their high caloric content by eating less food. Fruit juice is not a better option. Even though it has more nutrients, it contains as much sugar (though from naturally occurring fruit sugars rather than added sugar) and calories as soft drinks According to figures from the beverage industry, soft drink makers produce 10.4 billion gallons of sugary soda pop each year. That’s enough to serve every American a 12-ounce can every day, 365 days a year. The Role of Marketing Sugary drinks (soda, energy, sports drinks) are the top calorie source in teens’ diets (226 calories per day), beating out pizza (213 calories per day). Studies funded by the beverage industry are four to eight times more likely to show a finding favorable to industry than independently-funded studies. In 2013, Coke launched an “anti-obesity” advertisement recognizing that sweetened soda and many other foods and drinks have contributed to the obesity epidemic. Coke advertised its wide array of calorie-free beverages and encouraged individuals to take responsibility for their own drink choices and weight. Responses to the advertisement were mixed, with many experts calling it misleading and inaccurate in stating the health dangers of soda. A recent groundbreaking study of 33,097 individuals showed that those that, among people with a genetic predisposition for obesity, those who drank sugary drinks were more likely to be obese than those who did not. This is a very important study because it suggests that genetic risk for obesity does not need to become a reality if healthy habits, like avoiding sugary drinks, are followed. On the other hand, genetic obesity risk seems to be amplified by consuming sugary drinks. The more ounces of sugary beverages a person has each day, the more calories he or she takes in later in the day. This is the opposite of what happens with solid food, as people tend to compensate for a large meal by taking in fewer calories at a later meal. This compensatory effect doesn’t seem to be present after consuming soft drinks, for several possible reasons: Fluids don’t provide the same feeling of fullness or satisfaction as solid foods, as the body doesn’t “register” liquid calories as it does calories from solid food. This may prompt a person to keep eating even after an intake of a high-calorie drink. 10 Reasons to Avoid Drinking Soda 1- The Sugar! – A single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This amount of sugar, especially in liquid form, skyrockets the blood sugar and causes an insulin reaction in the body. Over time, this can lead to diabetes or insulin resistance, not to mention weight gain and other health problems. Soft drink companies are the largest user of sugar in the country. 2- Phosphoric Acid -Soda contains phosphoric acid, which interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to osteoporosis, cavities and bone softening. Phosphoric Acid also interacts with stomach acid, slowing digestion and blocking nutrient absorption. 3- Artificial Sweeteners– In diet sodas, aspartame is used as a substitute for sugar, and can actually be more harmful. It has been linked to almost a hundred different health problems including seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, diabetes, and emotional disorders. It converts to methanol at warm temperatures and methanol breaks down to formaldehyde and formic acid. Diet sodas also increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which causes belly fat, high blood sugar and raised cholesterol. 4- Caffeine– Most sodas contain caffeine, which has been linked to certain cancers, breast lumps, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and other problems. 5- The Water– The water used in soda is just simple tap water and can contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride and traces of heavy metals. 6- Obesity– Harvard researchers have recently positively linked soft drinks to obesity. The study found that 12 year olds who drank soda were more likely to be obese than those who didn’t, and for each serving of soda consumed daily, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times. 7- Extra Fructose– Sodas contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, which obviously comes from corn. Most of this corn has been genetically modified, and there are no long term studies showing the safety of genetically modified crops, as genetic modification of crops has only been around since the 1990s. Also, the process of making High Fructose Corn Syrup involves traces of mercury, which causes a variety of long term health problems. 8- Lack of Nutrients– There is absolutely no nutritional value in soda whatsoever. Not only are there many harmful effects of soda, but there are not even any positive benefits to outweigh them. Soda is an unnatural substance that harms the body. 9- Dehydration– Because of the high sugar, sodium and caffeine content in soda, it dehydrates the body and over a long period of time can cause chronic dehydration. 10- Bad for the teeth– Drinking soda regularly causes plaque to build up on the teeth and can lead to cavities and gum disease. Drinking Soda Can Kill You Source: Becca Borawski Jenkins Two brand new studies indicate life-threatening diseases are strongly associated with the consumption of soft drinks. In one study diet soft drinks were linked to an increase in stroke, heart attack, and vascular death. In another study soft drinks were linked to higher rates of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Scientists at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Columbia University Medical Center examined the risk of vascular events in relationship to consumption of both regular and diet soft drinks. Many people drink diet soft drinks because of the lack of sugar and calories, but in this study researchers determined diet soft drinks bring a much higher risk for stroke, heart attack, and other types of vascular-related death. The study included over 2,500 men who were tracked for a ten-year period. Participants who drank diet soft drinks on a daily basis were 43% more likely to experience a vascular event. People who drank only small amounts of diet soft drinks or who drank regular soft drinks were not likely to experience these heart troubles. In a separate study, from the University of Adelaide, scientists found a link between asthma and COPD and high levels of soft drink intake. In this study over 16,000 people were interviewed over a two-year period. In this study “soft drinks” included, but were not limited to, the following: Coke, lemonade, flavored mineral water, Powerade, and Gatorade. Researchers determined that one in ten adults consume more than half a liter of soft drinks on a daily basis, and the more a person drank the more likely they were to have asthma or COPD. While in both cases more study is needed to determine the exact mechanisms by which soft drink intake increases risk, it is scientifically clear that potentially negative outcomes, including chronic pulmonary diseases and vascular death, occur from high levels of soft drink consumption. How Coca-Cola affects your body when you drink it One researcher has created an infographic that explains what happens to the body within an hour of drinking a can of Coca-Cola. A 12-ounce serving of Coca-cola contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around half of the US population drink sugary beverages on any given day, with consumption of these drinks highest among teenagers and young adults. There are approximately 10 teaspoons of added sugar in a single can of cola. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend consuming no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily, meaning drinking just one serving of cola a day could take us well above these guidelines. As such, it is no surprise that sugary drink consumption is associated with an array of health conditions. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, people who drink 1-2 cans of sugary beverages daily are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and last month, Medical News Today reported on a study claiming 184,000 global deaths each year are down to sugary drink consumption. Now, an infographic created by British pharmacist Niraj Naik - based on research by health writer Wade Meredith - shows the damage a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola can do to the body within 1 hour of consumption. Coca-Cola 'comparable to heroin' in how it stimulates the brain's reward and pleasure centers According to Naik, the intense sweetness of Coca-Cola as a result of its high sugar content should make us vomit as soon as it enters the body. However, the phosphoric acid in the beverage dulls the sweetness, enabling us to keep the drink down. Blood sugar levels increase dramatically within 20 minutes of drinking the Cola, explains Naik, causing a burst of insulin. The liver then turns the high amounts of sugar circulating our body into fat. Within 40 minutes, the body has absorbed all of the caffeine from the Cola, causing a dilation of pupils and an increase in blood pressure. By this point, the adenosine receptors in the brain have been blocked, preventing fatigue. Five minutes later, production of dopamine has increased - a neurotransmitter that helps control the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. According to the infographic, the way Coca-Cola stimulates these centers is comparable to the effects of heroin, making us want another can. This infographic reveals what Coca-Cola does to the body within 1 hour of consumption. Image credit: Niraj Naik/Wade Meredith Esta infografía revela lo que Coca-Cola hace al cuerpo dentro de una hora después de su consumo. Crédito de la imagen: Niraj Naik / Wade Meredith An infographic showing what Coca-Cola does to the body This infographic reveals what Coca-Cola does to the body within 1 hour of consumption. Image credit: Niraj Naik/Wade Meredith An hour after drinking the beverage, a sugar crash will begin, causing irritability and drowsiness. In addition, the water from the Cola will have been cleared from the body via urination, along with nutrients that are important for our health. According to Naik, the infographic is not only applicable to Coca-Cola, but to all caffeinated fizzy drinks. "Coke is not just high in high fructose corn syrup, but it is also packed with refined salts and caffeine," writes Naik on his blog The Renegade Pharmacist. "Regular consumption of these ingredients in the high quantities you find in Coke and other processed foods and drinks, can lead to higher blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity." "However a small amount now and then won't do any major harm," he adds. "The key is moderation." In a press statement, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola says the beverage is "perfectly safe to drink and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle." Links you may want to visit What country drinks more Coca-Cola? 5 Unhealthiest Sodas

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Revised July 9 2020