What's Wrong With Coke?

One can of soft drink has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colours and sulphites. Really, there aren't any good reasons to ever have it. The diet varieties are also problematic as they are filled with harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame.

Studies have linked soft drink to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease, yet the average Australian drinks an estimated 76 litres of soft drink each year. Plus, drinking all that sugar will likely suppress your appetite for healthy foods, which pave the
way for nutrient deficiencies.

Soft drinks of all brands are highly acidic, however the pH level of soft drinks is just a small part of why these drinks are so toxic in your body. Coke has a pH level of 3.4 – in terms of acidity, this is equivalent to lemon juice, vinegar and most household cleaners. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones, hence the high level of tooth decay in young children.

There are many other reasons why you should avoid these drinks at all costs. The salt in these ‘beverages;' may reduce the amount of water in your cells. Salt increases dehydration, which is a contributing factor of illness, fatigue and chronic disease. Even mild dehydration will slow down the metabolism, speed up ageing, reduce resistance to disease and reduce muscle recovery after exercise. The sugar in soft drinks also increases hunger, causing overeating and in turn, obesity.

Soft drink consumption among children has almost doubled in the United States over the last decade and Australia is following suit. This is not surprising considering that most school and university hallways are lined with soft drink vending machines.

Schools often make marketing deals with leading soft drink companies such as Coca-Cola from which they receive commissions, based on a percentage of sales at each school, and sometimes a lump-sum payment, in exchange for their students' health. School vending machines can increase the consumption of sweetened beverages by up to 50 or more cans of soft drink per student per year.

If you routinely drink soft drink – regular or diet – eliminating it from your diet is one of the simplest and most profound health improvements you can make.