It’s obvious, right? The amount of sugar in every glass is mind blowing. 8-12 teaspoons, depending on the type of soft drink.
1. Within 20 minutes of consuming soft drink your blood sugar spikes and your pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that prompts your cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or store it as fat. Drinking lots of soft drink over a long period of time can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body can’t make enough insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it makes. This is known as insulin resistance, which causes blood sugar and insulin levels to stay high long after eating. Over time, the heavy demands made on the insulin-making cells wears them out, and insulin production eventually stops.That statistics are high with an increased risk of 80%.
2. Cola drinks contain high levels of phosphoric acid which have been linked to kidney stones and other renal problems. Phosphoric acid has also been associated with bone breakdown and an increased risk to osteoporosis.
3. A preservative called sodium benzoate found in soft drinks can cause reactions such as asthma, rash and eczema.
4. The sugar and acid in soft drinks can dissolve tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.
5. Most soft drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, another kind of sweetener used instead of cane sugar. It has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
6. The more soft drink your consume the more you will crave of all sugars generally.
7. The lining of soft drink cans contain a hormonal disruptor which is also found in the plastic of some soft drink bottles. It’s called bisphenyl- A or BPA. It can lead to oestrogen dominance, causing a disruption to your hormonal cycle. It has also been linked to oestrogen dominant cancers and obesity.
Love the refreshing quench of a soft drink? Here is what you can enjoy instead.
Gingery Bubbly Drink
To a glass jug, add 1 litre of sparkling mineral water, 1/4 teaspoon of organic green leaf stevia powder and 2 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger root. Stir and drink.
Lemony Bubbly Drink
To a large glass jug, add 500mls of sparkling mineral water, 250mls of lemon juice and a cold lemony brew.
To make a cold lemony brew: steep for 7 minutes in 500mls of boiling water – 2 teaspoons of organic lemon myrtle leaves, 2 teaspoons of licorice root and 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest then strain and cool. Stir and drink.
Orange Bubbly Drink
To a large glass jug, add 500mls of sparkling mineral water, 500mls of freshly squeezed orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon of organic green leaf stevia powder and 1 teaspoon of fresh orange zest. Stir and drink.
Berry Bubbly Drink
To a large glass jug, add 500mls sparkling mineral water and 500mls of a cold berry brew.
To make a cold berry brew: steep for 7 minutes in 500mls of boiling water – 2 teaspoons of organic hibiscus flowers, 1 teaspoon of rose hip, 1 teaspoon of elderberries and 1 teaspoon juniper berries. Stir and drink.