Is diet coke, pepsi max and cola drinks (diet and non diet) as bad as we are led to believe?
A 2006 study involving 2,500 people set out to determine what effects consumption of colas had on bone mineral density.
Researchers found that cola beverages were associated with low bone mineral density in women, while other carbonated drinks did not appear to have the same effect.
This is due to the fact that cola beverages have phosphorus, which can increase the loss of calcium from the body through the kidneys.
Long story short, limiting our intake of our ‘brown coloured’ soft drinks (such as Cola & Pepsi) may help us prevent bone loss.
Tooth Decay
I’ve noticed as I’ve aged my gums are receding. My dentist shared that menopause and the change in hormones can make our teeth and gums more susceptible to plaque. This leads to a much higher risk for tooth decay, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and advanced gum disease.
My mum lived her life with false teeth and I always vowed I wanted to look after my dental health so I didn’t end up like mum.
After digging into the research, carbonated drinks (soft drinks) with added ingredients (think flavour, sugar and acids) erode the enamel on our teeth. This includes all soft drinks, not just ‘brown coloured’.
You may be surprised to learn:
Club soda contains sodium, but seltzer water doesn’t.
Tonic water contains added sweeteners and flavours.
Flavoured sparkling water may have added citric acid or natural sweeteners, along with caffeine and sodium.
My suggestion is to buy plain sparkling water and add your favourite fresh fruit, cucumber or even herbs like fresh mint.
Weight Gain and Soft Drink
This is a common question I get asked. Will Diet Soft Drink Make Me fat? The calories are minimal (sometimes 0-5 calories per glass) so the calorie value will NOT make you fat.
However, soft drinks that contain artificial sweeteners, acids, flavours, preservatives etc may play havoc with your gut health increasing bloating, gas, inflammation and of course the non diet variety full of sugar and calories is putting you at very high risk of weight gain.
I’ve come to the conclusion as we age that our best self consumes water, herbal teas and plain carbonated water with added fresh fruit, herbs & vegetables. But of course we have our naughty self sometimes craves a Passion a or a Ginger Beer or Diet Coke and ‘occasionally’ I am certain is just fine!
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