Water, water everywhere, but who wants water to drink when one can reach out for a carton of ‘softy’?

Aerated or carbonated drinks are a fad among the modern youth who associate these drinks with being ‘cool’. It would be prudent, though, to evaluate the features of these tempting beverages and weigh the consequences of indulging in them.

Scientific studies have proved that consuming 1 to 1.5 litres of soft drinksa day can increase an individual’s susceptibility to numerous health problems, a few of which are discussed below.

Tooth Decay

People who consume three or more glasses of aerated soft drinks a day, stand a greater chance of tooth decay leading on to tooth loss. The high sugar content in the soft drinks provides a haven for bacteria, which attack the teeth and ushers in the decay. Besides, the acid content in the soft drinks destroys the teeth by corroding their enamel.

Extra Calories

Soft drinks are made up of filtered water, refined sugar and artificial additives and are completely devoid of any nutritional value. These drinks contribute to the calorie build- up because of their refined sugar content, resulting in weight gain in individuals who have crossed the line of moderate consumption.

Diet Drink

Are Diet Soft Drinks the ‘panacea to the pain’ called weight gain? Basic facts reveal that the soft drinks of the ‘diet’ category are stacked with aspartame (an artificial low-calorie sweetener), which multiplies hunger pangs and leaves the consumer craving for more!

Aspartame also has the dubious distinction of causing migraines, dizziness and impaired memory.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made a move to stop foods containing aspartame to be tagged as 'weight reduction products’ choosing, instead, to label these products simply as 'Diet Drink' or 'Diet Food '.

Malady of the Malnourished

Some people who are addicted to soft drinks experience gastrointestinal disturbances coupled with a plummeting appetite. This in turn prompts them to avoid food leaving them victims of malnutrition, retarded growth and several other physiological problems.

Effect on Digestive System

Anyone opening a bottle of aerated drink is welcomed by a gush of ‘fizz’. This is due to the phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide (CO2) content in these drinks making them alarmingly acidic with a pH, which ranges from 2.5-3.4. This generates a highly acidic environment in the stomach.

Of all the organs that make up the digestive system, only the stomach has the ability to withstand a pH upto 2.0. Other organs, including the lining of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus are extremely sensitive to the presence of the acid in the soft drink.

It is commonly observed that acidity prompts a person to help himself to a soft drink in order to help calm the stomach. Some individuals do the same after a heavy meal. However, this practice is harmful as the phosphoric acid vies with the hydrochloric acid already present in the stomach and impairs its function leading to faulty digestion, bloating and gassiness. It would, therefore, do well for individuals suffering from acidity to avoid soft drinks.