Soft drinks are attractive to many people around the world, especially on hot summer days, as they are delicious and refreshing for many, but they also come with a number of health risks that may make one think more than once before eating them.
It is known that soft drinks increase the risk of some types of cancer, negatively affect the liver, and lead to weight gain due to the large amounts of sugar they contain. Nutrition experts say that soft drinks have no real value, as they are devoid of vitamins and rich in artificial dyes and flavors.
In a report published by the American magazine “Eat This, Not That,” author Samantha Bush says: In addition to the health risks, there are other negative effects of soda, not widely known, that would motivate us to stop drinking. invasive.
feeling hungry
Soda may satiate our cravings for sugar, but it will not eliminate the feeling of hunger, but rather the opposite.
Studies show that soft drinks increase our sense of hunger after drinking them.
According to a report published in the American Journal of Public Health, this feeling is due to several reasons, as soft drinks do not contain beneficial nutrients and vitamins, especially proteins, so we often feel hungry after eating them.
In addition, soda contains high amounts of fructose, which has the same effect as glucose, as the feeling of hunger increases the more we consume it.
fat accumulation
Soda is linked to weight gain, and the percentage of body fat that is concentrated in particular around the waist area, which contains two types of fat: visceral and subcutaneous fat.
Subcutaneous fat regulates temperature, provides energy, and protects bones and muscles. The visceral fat in the abdominal area is the most dangerous to health, and its accumulation may lead to high blood pressure and increase insulin resistance, with attendant health risks.
According to The Journal of Nutrition, drinking soda is associated with increased body fat, specifically dangerous visceral fat.
addiction risk
A recent 2019 study published in the journal Appetite found that soft drinks are addictive, especially in teens.
She confirmed that those who drank soda regularly experienced withdrawal symptoms when they stopped drinking it for 3 days.
Symptoms included decreased motivation, decreased ability to concentrate, and frequent headaches.
Dementia and stroke
Some scientific research links soda drinking to an increased risk of dementia and stroke.
A 2017 study published in the journal Stroke on the effects of consuming artificially sweetened beverages and drinks with added sugar found that consuming them increases the risk of multiple types of stroke, as well as multiple types of dementia.
Increased risk of gout
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the body.
According to a study published in the journal JAMA, women who drink soda regularly are more likely to develop gout than those who don't drink soda.
Soda contains high levels of fructose, which contributes to an increase in uric acid levels in the body, and the risk increases for those with genetic problems related to the urinary system.