Many people are not watchful of things they ingest to nourish their bodies. This is partly due to the hype placed on many of commercial food and drinks that are easily available today. It has become a common practice to go with the trend, but are you aware of the harm that artificial drinks can do to your body? What ingredients are found in those nice to drink colas, power drinks and articificial juice drinks?
Let's see what these drinks contain. Hereunder is a list of the ingredients found in colas, power drinks, and artificial juice drinks.
1. Sugar and/or high fructose in corn syrup
In the last decade or so, the consumption of fructose such as those derived from softdrinks or juice drinks has been linked to a rise in obesity and metabolic disorders. In laboratory experiments, scientists found out that fructose stimulates fat production that leads to insulin resistance in the liver and other organs, abnormal concentrations of fats in the blood and high blood pressure (Le KA, 2006). This suggests that it is possible that too much consumption of high sugar foods can lead to a high concentration of fats in the blood thus raise blood pressure.
2. Citric acid
The Academy of General Dentistry cautions cola and commercial juice drinkers that many of the beverages today have very high acidity. Very high acidity from citric acid in drinks can destroy the hard enamel of the teeth that will lead to tooth decay and eventual loss.
3. Vitamin C
Although drinks with Vitamin C are purported by advertisers to have some health benefits, in reality these are not natural. Synthetic Vitamin C can cause kidney stones, gout, arthritis and ulcers, and can even cause heart disease. Natural Vitamin C in fruits and vegetables are much better because these do not have detrimental side-effects.
4. Artificial flavors and/or sodium benzoate
Dr. Jim Stevenson and his team from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom determined that artificial colors and/or sodium benzoate increased levels of hyperactivity in preschool aged and 8-9 year old children within the general population. This means that children's behavior are influenced by their fancy of colorful and sweet, junk foods.
5. Tartrazine
Tartrazine is used to provide color to drinks. Studies show that it can cause asthma, migraines, hyperactivity and skin rashes. It has also been found to cause a deficiency in other vitamins and minerals. New research indicates that it may play a role in heart disease
6. Flavorants
Flavorants are usually not specifically indicated. Flavorants may contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), a controversial substance which has many side effects among which is its toxicity. There is still an on-going debate regarding its safety as a flavor enhancer. But this author notes that in his place, it is common practice to get rid of feral dogs with meat containing a lot of MSG. This effectively poisons them.
7. Sodium Saccharin.
Studies showed clearly that sodium saccharin can contribute to bladder cancer and tumours in the urinary tract.
8. Sodium Cyclamate
Sodium cyclamate is considered to be carcinogenic and has similar effects to saccharin.
9. Sorbic Acid
High levels of sorbic acid can irritate the nose, eyes and throat.
10. Benzoic Acid
Benzoic acid is a preservative that causes allergies and intolerances. This results to asthma, itchy skin eruptions and hyperactivity.
11. Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Sodium hexametaphosphate can lead to a loss of calcium and cause kidney damage.
12. Potassium Benzoate
Potassium benzoate can can trigger asthma, itchy skin eruptions and hyperactivity just like benzoic acid.
So good, old, simple water is the best drink to take. But avoid distilled ones because bottled distilled water has an acid pH. High ph results to a loss of alkaline minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, distilled water is essentially mineral free so it dissolves substances with which it comes into contact. Trace minerals found in plain water are important in regulating heart beat and normalizing blood pressure.
References
Academy of General Dentistry
Le KA, T., 2006. Metabolic effects of fructose. Retrieved on April 15, 2010 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16778579.
Mary-Ann Shearer and The Shearer Family Trust
Source: 12 Harmful Ingredients in Power Drinks, Colas and Artificial Juice Drinks
Let's see what these drinks contain. Hereunder is a list of the ingredients found in colas, power drinks, and artificial juice drinks.
1. Sugar and/or high fructose in corn syrup
In the last decade or so, the consumption of fructose such as those derived from softdrinks or juice drinks has been linked to a rise in obesity and metabolic disorders. In laboratory experiments, scientists found out that fructose stimulates fat production that leads to insulin resistance in the liver and other organs, abnormal concentrations of fats in the blood and high blood pressure (Le KA, 2006). This suggests that it is possible that too much consumption of high sugar foods can lead to a high concentration of fats in the blood thus raise blood pressure.
2. Citric acid
The Academy of General Dentistry cautions cola and commercial juice drinkers that many of the beverages today have very high acidity. Very high acidity from citric acid in drinks can destroy the hard enamel of the teeth that will lead to tooth decay and eventual loss.
3. Vitamin C
Although drinks with Vitamin C are purported by advertisers to have some health benefits, in reality these are not natural. Synthetic Vitamin C can cause kidney stones, gout, arthritis and ulcers, and can even cause heart disease. Natural Vitamin C in fruits and vegetables are much better because these do not have detrimental side-effects.
4. Artificial flavors and/or sodium benzoate
Dr. Jim Stevenson and his team from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom determined that artificial colors and/or sodium benzoate increased levels of hyperactivity in preschool aged and 8-9 year old children within the general population. This means that children's behavior are influenced by their fancy of colorful and sweet, junk foods.
5. Tartrazine
Tartrazine is used to provide color to drinks. Studies show that it can cause asthma, migraines, hyperactivity and skin rashes. It has also been found to cause a deficiency in other vitamins and minerals. New research indicates that it may play a role in heart disease
6. Flavorants
Flavorants are usually not specifically indicated. Flavorants may contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), a controversial substance which has many side effects among which is its toxicity. There is still an on-going debate regarding its safety as a flavor enhancer. But this author notes that in his place, it is common practice to get rid of feral dogs with meat containing a lot of MSG. This effectively poisons them.
7. Sodium Saccharin.
Studies showed clearly that sodium saccharin can contribute to bladder cancer and tumours in the urinary tract.
8. Sodium Cyclamate
Sodium cyclamate is considered to be carcinogenic and has similar effects to saccharin.
9. Sorbic Acid
High levels of sorbic acid can irritate the nose, eyes and throat.
10. Benzoic Acid
Benzoic acid is a preservative that causes allergies and intolerances. This results to asthma, itchy skin eruptions and hyperactivity.
11. Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Sodium hexametaphosphate can lead to a loss of calcium and cause kidney damage.
12. Potassium Benzoate
Potassium benzoate can can trigger asthma, itchy skin eruptions and hyperactivity just like benzoic acid.
So good, old, simple water is the best drink to take. But avoid distilled ones because bottled distilled water has an acid pH. High ph results to a loss of alkaline minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, distilled water is essentially mineral free so it dissolves substances with which it comes into contact. Trace minerals found in plain water are important in regulating heart beat and normalizing blood pressure.
References
Academy of General Dentistry
Le KA, T., 2006. Metabolic effects of fructose. Retrieved on April 15, 2010 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16778579.
Mary-Ann Shearer and The Shearer Family Trust
Source: 12 Harmful Ingredients in Power Drinks, Colas and Artificial Juice Drinks
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