Soda pop with caffeine can taste refreshing and give you a quick lift. However, drinking soda pop too often can be a bad habit. Soft drinks do not provide essential nutrients, and many of them have artificial colors and flavors. The caffeine and added sugars in soda pop can have harmful effects on your long-term health.
Weight Gain
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend limiting your intake of high sugar foods and drinks to prevent weight gain. Unwanted weight gain is a health risk because obesity can increase the risk for many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and respiratory problems. According to MayoClinic.com, added sugars do not add vitamins and minerals, and only provide calories. It also makes food taste better so that you tend to eat more. A 12 oz. can of non-diet soda pop with sugar, high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup has about 130 calories and 8 tsp. of added sugar, or about the total amount of added sugars that you should have each day.
Weak Bones
Your body needs adequate dietary calcium to build and maintain strong bones, and a harmful effect of soda pop with caffeine can be weaker bones. According to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, caffeine can reduce the amount of calcium that your body absorbs from food. Over time, this could lead to osteoporosis and a high risk for bone fractures. Caffeine's effects on calcium absorption are likely to be more severe with high caffeine intake and insufficient calcium consumption, so limiting caffeine and getting enough calcium can lower your risk for weak bones due to soda pop with caffeine. Another consideration is that if you drink soda pop with caffeine instead of milk, you will be getting less calcium and more caffeine.
Nervousness And Insomnia
According to KidsHealth.org, some people drink caffeine to lift their energy levels. Sugary soda pop with caffeine can give you a rapid boost because sugar and caffeine enter your bloodstream quickly. Caffeine affects your brain and can make you more alert and focused. However, it can also make you jittery and nervous, especially if you get too much of it. In addition, taking caffeine too close to bedtime can keep you awake. Most people feel the effects of caffeine for about six hours, but some people are particularly sensitive to caffeine. People with caffeine sensitivity feel effects for longer periods and the effects are more pronounced than for other people.
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