A big no to soft drinks

Soft drinks are served on all kinds of revelries ranging from birthday parties, cocktails, weddings to a normal get together. Filled with sugar and devoid of any nutritional value, aerated drinks are equivalent to any poisonous drink. Soft drinks are carbonated beverages. Undoubtedly, there is nothing wrong in consuming soft drinks occasionally. What we need to remember is that excess of anything is harmful. Drinking aerated drinks on a regular basis may aggravate series of health problems. Following are the effects that aerated drinks may have on our body-

1.     Heart related problems

Soft drinks are filled with high amount of sugar and tons of calories. Excess of sugar increases the risk of strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. A survey has shown that 40,000 men for two decades consumed one can of a beverage almost everyday, thus had 20% higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack than men who rarely consumed sugary beverages.

2.     Can lead to changes in the brain

The two most prominent parts of a human body that distinguish it from a material good are brain and heart. Brain controls and coordinates the body's actions and reactions. These drinks do not just affect the body, but they are also found to alter the protein levels in the brain that may lead to hyperactivity.

3.     Obesity

Obesity in itself is a root cause of wide range of diseases. A person’s intake of calories increases due to the amount of sugar present in a soft drink. Obesity and high body mass index are risk factors for many chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.

4.     Rots the teeth

Enamel hardens the outside of the teeth, protecting the dentin and pulp of the tooth from any damage. Sugar and soda present in the drinks are the causes of rotting of teeth. Soda contains acids such as phosphate and citric acid that weaken the tooth enamel. When the enamel weakens, bacterial plaque that forms on the teeth causes cavities. It is vital to keep in mind that aerated drinks should be consumed in moderation and whenever consumed it is advisable to use a straw so the teeth are less exposed to the sugar and acid in the drink.

5.     Can increase the risk of cancer

Various studies have shown that over consumption of soft drinks can majorly increase the risk of cancer. They increase the amount of insulin that the pancreas produces and increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Also drinking one fizzy drink a day is most likely to increase a man’s chance of developing prostate cancer by around 40 per cent.

6.     May cause premature birth

Pregnant women should specially stay away from soft drinks as much as they can. A study in Denmark showed that those who drank artificially sweetened soft drinks, whether fizzy or still, were found to be more likely to give birth prematurely. It may have been due to the chemicals present in these beverages.

7.     Damage bones

High levels of phosphoric acid present in aerated drinks like cola can have a drastic impact on our bones. The body naturally strives to maintain balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus, so when there is excess phosphorus, calcium is released from the bones to correct the balance.

8.     Cause bloating

A gas called carbonic acid fills the stomach with air, creating pressure which pushes the air back up the gullet (or oesophagus) causing a belch. Fizzy drinks can also worsen irritable bowel syndrome, a disorder linked to digestive system problems.

9.     Speed up aging

Aging is a natural process and so is death. It is definitely inevitable. But none of us would like to speed up our aging process. Well, aerated drinks do exactly that. It is said that people who often drink aerated drinks are most likely to age much faster than people who do not. Scientists at the University of California found out that regular drinkers had DNA changes that made their cells 4.6 years older.

10.  Can cause liver damage

Liver is one of the most significant organs of the body. Its main function is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. Existence of a person without this organ is impossible. A study from 2009 found that sugary drinks can cause fatty liver disease and drinking two cans per day could lead to liver damage.