Sparkling water helps quench thirst, and sweet drinks based on it are loved by both children and adults. But, unfortunately, they negatively affect health. In the material we tell why you should give up carbonated drinks, as well as how to do it.
Why You Should Avoid Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks are good at quenching thirst, but can adversely affect health. Let’s talk about this in more detail.
1. Harmful to the stomach
According to American nutrition consultant Leah Kaufman, the carbon dioxide itself, which is used to make water carbonated, is not harmful to the body. But it can cause stomach problems. It can increase acidity, which contributes to bloating, especially if you drink sparkling water on an empty stomach.
Also, frequent use of such water can contribute to impaired motility of the gastrointestinal tract. This is especially harmful for those who already have gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis or ulcers.
2. Lead to excess weight
Barry Popkin, director of the Interdisciplinary Obesity Program at the University of North Carolina, USA, notes that drinking sugary sodas contributes to weight gain. He says:
Such drinks, due to the high content of sugar in the composition, provide many additional calories to the usual diet. And this can contribute to the set of extra pounds.
3. Contribute to the deterioration of the condition of the teeth
According to a 2016 US study, carbonated drinks can contribute to tooth enamel erosion. This makes it susceptible to temperatures, germs and damage, and increases the risk of cavities.
This is due to the fact that carbonated drinks have a low pH, which increases their erosiveness. Also, damage to the teeth, according to scientists, is largely due to acids added to carbonated water – citric, malic, phosphoric.
4. Influence the rate of cell aging
Sugary carbonated drinks can contribute to cellular aging of the body. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the United States in 2014. In their study, they measured the length of leukocyte telomeres using DNA samples – the shorter they are, the more pronounced the aging process.
It turned out that in people who often drank sweet soda, leukocyte telomeres were significantly shorter than in those who did not abuse it. At the same time, the results did not depend on the body mass index, tendency to obesity and other individual characteristics of the participants.
In addition, the study made it clear that, on average, people who drink about 0.5 liters of sweet soda per day add about 4.6 years to their age, compared with those who do not drink such drinks.
5. Promote acne
Scientists from China in 2019 found that drinking sweet soda can contribute to acne. They conducted a physical examination and collected survey data from 8,197 students.
According to the results, those who consumed sugary soda more than seven times a week had moderate to severe acne. Especially if the participants consumed drinks daily with a total sugar content of more than 100 grams. In addition to sweet soda, sweetened tea and fruit drinks with the same amount of sweetener had the same effect.
6. Negatively affect memory
According to neurologist Matthew P. Pase from Australia, frequent consumption of sugary soda can negatively affect memory. The doctor conducted a survey – people who often used it and those who refused it took part in it. It turned out that the memory test results of the first group were worse.
How to stop drinking soda water
Many people report that it is difficult for them to stop drinking carbonated drinks. Some compare it to a real addiction that you have to fight. There are several methods that will help to cope with the desire to open another can of soda.
Find the right replacement
The best replacement for soda water is plain water. But if you can’t get rid of the feeling that you lack the taste, find a replacement for your favorite drink. For example, brew green tea, dilute jam with boiled water or pour fruit into it, make a smoothie. But replacing carbonated drinks with coffee is not worth it.
Don’t be hungry
To give up soda, it is important to follow a diet. After all, it is the feeling of hunger that often causes cravings for this drink. Therefore, it is worth stocking up on healthy snacks, as well as not skipping meals during the day.
Find ways to please yourself
For many people, a sweet fizzy drink is a way to pamper yourself at the end of a busy day or just to lift your spirits. To abandon the usual quick way to please yourself, you should look for alternatives to it. For example, choose a useful product as a reward – yogurt, fruit. Or use other methods to cheer yourself up, which we talked about in this material.
Ask for support
It is difficult to refuse any product if, thanks to household members, it appears in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is worth asking for support from those with whom you live. Even if your partner or family members are not ready to give up carbonated drinks themselves, ask them to consume them outside the home or store them where you cannot see. At least for a while, until the craving for them becomes much less.
get enough sleep
When giving up carbonated drinks, especially sweet ones, many people experience fatigue, headache, and become irritable. So the body reacts to a sharp change in the usual level of sugar, which it receives daily. In addition, this is also affected by the psychological discomfort that you experience due to the lack of your favorite drink.
Therefore, while you refuse it, you should pay special attention to the time and quality of sleep. This will help maintain energy and cope with unpleasant symptoms.
Read related:Which types of alcohol should not be mixed and why
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