It is very common to see people who eat in eateries and restaurants order a bottle/can of soda alongside meals. While it's still not clear why this nutritional behavior has been adopted, we can only assume that there's an increase need for quick energy.
But have you ever thought for once, what does these sodas contain? A closer look at the container of a very popular soda drink will shock you. PHOSPHORIC ACID!
Please note that the ingredient portion of the coke label has been removed from most bottles in the Nigerian market.
Phosphoric acid is a common additive in many processed foods. It's also used to add flavor and maintain freshness.
But have you ever thought for once, what does these sodas contain? A closer look at the container of a very popular soda drink will shock you. PHOSPHORIC ACID!
Phosphoric acid is a common additive in many processed foods. It's also used to add flavor and maintain freshness.
Phosphoric acid is a colorless, odorless crystalline liquid. It gives soft drinks a tangy flavor and prevents the growth of mold and bacteria, which can multiply easily in a sugary solution.
It’s actually more common to have too much phosphorus than not enough. Phosphorus is found naturally in many foods and phosphoric acid is used as an additive.
Your body needs phosphorus, but too much of it can be problematic. Studies suggest that too much phosphorus intake can be a risk factor for osteoporosis and heart disease. Calcium and phosphorus when balanced work together to form and maintain healthy teeth and bones.
Too much phosphorus can decrease the amount of calcium in your body, leading to bone loss. It can also impair your body’s ability to use other minerals, such as iron, zinc, and magnesium.
Phosphoric acid is dangerous as a chemical substance. The toxic fumes can irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
The recommended daily amount (RDA) of phosphorus needed for normal bodily function is 700 mg. You can get this easily from natural food sources. Foods that are high in protein (e.g. meat, beans, eggs, chicken, and fish) are usually high in phosphorus as well. This means additional phosphoric acid from processed food and soda is likely more than the body needs.
Dark-colored sodas tend to have more phosphoric acid. The exception to this rule is root beer, which contains very little.
Because so many of us drink sodas and eat processed foods, there's growing concern of it's impact on our health. For example, one soda may have up to 500 mg of phosphoric acid. People who take in 4,000 mg per day of phosphorus are considered at high risk for negative health effects associated with phosphorus.
Adults with kidney disease are recommended to have no more than 800 to 1,000 mg of phosphorus a day. Kidneys help the body get rid of extra phosphorus, but too much phosphorus can build up in the blood if they’re not functioning well.
If drinking soda is a "can't do without", then use this passage to drink healthy.
Clear carbonated drinks such as ginger ale, lemon-lime sodas, and flavored seltzers are all good choices if you’re trying to cut down on phosphoric acid. Plain seltzer water also doesn’t contain the additive.
The following are most of the ingredient in your Soda and their demerits:
In all, the healthiest drink remains water.
The following are most of the ingredient in your Soda and their demerits:
1. The Sugar! – A single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This amount of sugar, especially in liquid form, skyrockets the blood sugar and causes an insulin reaction in the body. Over time, this can lead to diabetes or insulin resistance, not to mention weight gain and other health problems. Soft drink companies are the largest user of sugar in the country.
2. Phosphoric Acid -Soda contains phosphoric acid, which interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to osteoporosis, cavitations and bone softening. Phosphoric Acid also interacts with stomach acid, slowing digestion and blocking nutrient absorption.
3. Artificial Sweeteners– In diet sodas, aspartame is used as a substitute for sugar, and can actually be more harmful. It has been linked to almost a hundred different health problems including seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, diabetes, and emotional disorders. It converts to methanol at warm temperatures and methanol breaks down to formaldehyde and formic acid. Diet sodas also increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which causes belly fat, high blood sugar and raised cholesterol.
4. Caffeine– Most sodas contain caffeine, which has been linked to certain cancers, breast lumps, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and other problems.
5. The Water– The water used in soda is just simple tap water and can contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride and traces of heavy metals.
6. Obesity– Harvard researchers have recently positively linked soft drinks to obesity. The study found that 12 year olds who drank soda were more likely to be obese than those who didn’t, and for each serving of soda consumed daily, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.
7. Extra Fructose– Sodas contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, which obviously comes from corn. Most of this corn has been genetically modified, and there are no long term studies showing the safety of genetically modified crops, as genetic modification of crops has only been around since the 1990s. Also, the process of making High Fructose Corn Syrup involves traces of mercury, which causes a variety of long term health problems.
8. Lack of Nutrients– There is absolutely no nutritional value in soda whatsoever. Not only are there many harmful effects of soda, but there are not even any positive benefits to outweigh them. Soda is an unnatural substance that harms the body.
9. Dehydration– Because of the high sugar, sodium and caffeine content in soda, it dehydrates the body and over a long period of time can cause chronic dehydration.
10. Bad for the teeth– Drinking soda regularly causes plaque to build up on the teeth and can lead to cavities and gum disease.
In all, the healthiest drink remains water.
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