Reality of the Ingredients and the Procedure used for making Soft-drinks
Let's start with a common question.
Do you consume Soft Drinks?
Of course You do.
Instead not only you but everyone drinks soft drinks on regular basis as it's quite common.
credit - IndiaMART
You can easily purchase it from nearby shop or shopping malls. It could be even in your refrigerator too or even in your hand! Maybe.
You know there's a interesting fact that there are only 2 nations left in this world where Soft-drink Brand Coca Cola is not available.
These countries are:
1. North Korea
2. Cuba
Other than these two nations, whole world consumes it regularly whether its a kid or an aged, adult or experienced, everyone drinks them on regular basis.
credit - Food Ingredients First
From a Cinema Theater to Cricket match or from a Canteen to Wedding stalls, you can find these soft-drinks everywhere you go.
According to Coca Cola's website itself, it has revealed that all over world there per day serving is around 1.9 billion in 200 countries.
Just imagine this data shows the per day serving of only one soft-drink brand.
Now just take a thought for what you, your friends and your relatives drinks on a regular basis.
What's the ingredient used for the processing and manufacturing of these drinks.
Eager to know? Let's find out..
Myths & Rumors
Let us start with all the myths and rumors spread around regarding the ingredients used for the making of these soft-drinks.
1. The first and the most popular myth regarding soft-drinks criticized my most of its critics is that It is made up of Toilet Cleansers.
1. The first and the most popular myth regarding soft-drinks criticized my most of its critics is that It is made up of Toilet Cleansers.
credit - Toiletseek
Can all these soft-drinks such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola can be compared with Toilet Cleansers? Of course NO!
Issue: The argument regarding this myth has been raised because as toilet cleansers are acidic in nature and soft-drinks also contains acids. But that doesn't mean that it is made up of toilet cleansers.
Solution: Actually the acids used to make soft-drinks are Citric Acid and Phosphoric Acid. Citric acids is a common natural acid found in lemons and oranges also. While Phosphoric acid is a food grade additive which is usually used in foods.
credit - Healthline
The substance which contains high sugar content leads to forming of some bacteria. To avoid and kill these bacteria, Phosphoric acid is used. It is also used in making of jams, protein drinks, preserved coffee and even cheese.
credit - IndiaMART
Interestingly these both acids are used for the manufacture of toilet cleansers as well. But comparing these both situation isn't sense full at all.
You might have studied about mild acids or dilute and concentrated acids in your school. By this information we know that Phosphoric acids are weak acids.
On the other hand a more strong chemicals are used in the manufacture of toilet cleansers like Sodium Hypochlorite and Hydrochloric Acid. Even our stomach contains HCl, now would you compare your stomach with toilet cleansers?
credit - iStock
So based on these facts, you can't really say that Soft-drinks are made up of Toilet Cleansers.
2. Another myth states that the pH level of Toilet Cleansers is equal to that of Soft-drinks. The pH level of soft-drinks is around 2.5 to 3.
Solution: Do you know that the pH level of lemon is from 2 to 2.6 and the pH level of pomegranate and grapes is 2.9, which are all consumed by you and have the same pH as soft-drinks. So now would you like to compare these fruits and vegetables from toilet cleansers?
credit - ResearchGate
After clearing the all these 2 famous myths, you might be wondering that now we can drink these soft-drinks without any problem?
But the answer is a big NO. Why? Let's find out.
Ingredients
Have a look at any soft-drink's ingredient list. Just for convenience, I'm taking the famous soft-drink brand Mirinda (600ml). It gives you 330 kcal per bottle. It is equal to consuming 3 chapatis with a bowl full of veggies. Now you might think that what's the problem in this.
credit - IndiaMART
The thing is eating these meal will be acting as you lunch or dinner and you won't be needing anything after this.
But drinking soft-drinks of the same energy level won't fill your stomach and you will surely need anything after this to eat.
Other than this, our meals provide us carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals and a variety of digestive enzyme.
credit - Open Food Facts
While a bottle of soft-drink will provide us with empty calories containing only sugar, Plenty of Sugar!
You won't believe but according to their ingredient list data, 100ml of soft-drink contains 13.8 grams of "added sugar" which accounts for almost half the glass (100ml).
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According to America's Heart Association, our body needs 0 gram of added sugar. Only natural sugar is helpful for our body which is found in milk and fruits.
Diet Soft-drinks
Due to the issue of sugar overdose in several countries, PepsiCo launched diet Pepsi in 1964. Coca Cola also launched its Diet Coke in 1982. These both contains 0 calories and 0 added sugar.
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credit - Fresh Club
Well the answer is still a NO as they are made up of artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame, Saccharine and Sucralose.
credit - Healthonics
But if you will check the official website of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), you will find that Aspartame is linked with increase in risk of Cancer. Certain studies have also concluded that using these chemicals results in heart diseases, toxicity in kidney and liver as well as several mental issues and birth defects.
Ultimate Solution
The main cause to avoid soft-drinks is not only harmful chemicals but it is associated with sugar addiction also. Its really not easy to get rid of sugar addiction,
You might think that we can use fruit juices or lemonade as alternatives. But it possesses the same problem as it also contains added sugar.
You might think that we can use fruit juices or lemonade as alternatives. But it possesses the same problem as it also contains added sugar.
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credit - The Spruce Eats
Though fruit juices would contain natural acids if it is fully concentrated and made up of fruits only. But using these much of fruits for making a concentrated juice might increase the intake of natural sugar. Increases natural sugar is also not good for our health.
credit - Healthshots
So now you might think that if no soft-drinks, no fruit juices and not even lemonade then what should we really consume.
The answer is WATER.
Yes you heard that right! Drinking water is the best habit you can build instead of all these. Though it will be quite hard for you in starting to manage and to add that habit in your diet.
But as soon it becomes your habit, it will really help you. It will get rid of your sugar addiction as well as make your diet healthy.
credit - New Straits Times
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