Although traditional and homemade beverages are still very popular in India, packaged beverages are becoming more and more popular among Indian consumers, who now often choose similar products that are more convenient for consumption-soft drinks!
A soft drink is a beverage that usually contains carbonated water (although lemonade, etc., are usually not carbonated), sweeteners, and natural or artificial flavors. The sweetener can be sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, sugar substitutes (in case of diet drinks) or some combination of these. Soft drinks may also contain caffeine, colorings, preservatives and other ingredients.
What are the benefits of soft drinks?
Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant found in soft drinks. Large intakes can adversely affect your health, but it also has many benefits. Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, helps break down fatty acids in the liver, improves mood and relieves headaches. People who regularly consume caffeine are less likely to suffer from Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, gallstones and liver cirrhosis.
Carbonated water: Carbonated water is the main ingredient of soft drinks. In 1767, Joseph Priestly invented carbonated water, which later proved to have many benefits for the gastrointestinal tract. Carbonated water can relieve stomach pain, eliminate nausea, and has been proven to relieve constipation.
The adverse effects of soft drinks
1. Asthma
Sodium benzoate, a preservative found in soda water and many other processed foods, can trigger allergic reactions, including asthma and eczema.
2. Kidney problems
High phosphoric acid content in soda water is related to kidney stones and other related discomforts.
3. Sugar attack
High fructose corn syrup and other processed sugars in soft drinks can cause a severe spike and breakdown of insulin, which can lead to mood swings, energy expenditure, and dependence on sugar.
4. Obesity
The link between sugar consumption and obesity is undisputed. For every extra glass of soda drink, the risk of obesity increases by 1.6 times.
5. Bad teeth
The sugar and acid in soft drinks will dissolve your tooth enamel.
6. Heart disease
Studies have shown that men and women who drink a can of sugary soda every day have a 20% higher risk of heart disease than those who rarely drink such beverages.
7. Reproductive problems
Soda cans are lined with BPA (bisphenol A), a resin that has been shown to cause endocrine problems, which can lead to negative reproductive health.
8. Weaken bones
The phosphoric acid in soda water will filter out calcium from the body. The formation and integrity of bones depend on calcium.
9. Diabetes
Compared with people who rarely drink soft drinks, people who drink one or two cans a day have a 26% higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
10. Dehydration
Many people drink soda instead of water during meals. They may forget to drink enough water during the day. But, in addition, the high sodium and caffeine content in soft drinks can even dehydrate you. In any case, this will only happen if you take more than two cans a day; the more you drink, the more dehydrated you will be, and the more thirsty you will be; if you drink soda to quench your thirst, you will only feed this cycle.
