I assume that we all want to be healthy. Sometimes, however, I wonder. Those who make me have doubts are many, but I dedicate this post specifically to:
- Cigdem
- Fadıl, and
- Gügü.
Here’s what happens to your body when you assault it with coke.
Within the first 10 minutes, 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. This is 100 percent of your recommended daily intake, and the only reason you don’t vomit is because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor.
Within 20 minutes, your blood sugar spikes, and your liver responds to the resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts of sugar into fat.
Within 40 minutes, caffeine absorption is complete; your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, and your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.
Around 45 minutes, your body increases dopamine production, which stimulates the pleasure centers of your brain – a physically identical response to that of heroin, by the way.
After 60 minutes, you’ll start to have a sugar crash.
Before you grab the next can of soda consider this: One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial colors and sulphites. Not to mention the fact that it’s also your largest source of dangerous high-fructose modified corn syrup.
This reminds me of a past experience. I used to suggest to my coke addicted friends that it was better to drink normal, rather than diet soda, given how harmful (and useless) artificial sweeteners were. Well that was until I discovered that “normal” soda wasn’t being sweetened with regular white sugar anymore, but with HFCS.
Anyway, let’s take a look at some of the other major components of a can of soda:
Phosphoric Acid: This can interfere with the body’s ability to use calcium, leading to osteoporosis, or softening of the teeth and bones.
Sugar: It is a well known fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging, and much more. Did you know that sugar is more addictive than cocaine? Did you know that cancer cells feed on sugar?
Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda (Zero Coke). The FDA didn’t allow its usage for 17 years, and then Donald Rumsfeld joined the board and, bingo, permission was granted. There are over 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures.
Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer. (I must add a comment to this: a moderate amount of caffeine is good for you, because of the high antioxidant content.)
A study published in the British medical journal The Lancet showed a strong link between soda consumption and childhood obesity.
Here is another sobering fact for you: Just one extra can of soda per day can add as much as 15 pounds to your weight over the course of a single year.
Other statistics on the health dangers of soft drinks include:
One soda per day increases your risk of diabetes by 85 percent.
Soda drinkers have a higher cancer risk.
Soda has been shown to cause DNA damage – thanks to sodium benzoate, a common preservative found in many soft drinks. This could eventually lead to diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s.
Most importantly, there is absolutely NO REASON your kids should ever drink soda.
Please try all means that can help you drop your addiction to soda; therapy, tapping, etc.
That’s it for this week; see you all next time.
