Marielle Suddarth, (pictured) NSCA CPT Coach and Operations Director at The New Beginnings Center reveals the ugly truth about what’s in that attractive looking soda drink!
According to a Gallup poll, 48% of Americans drink soda on a daily basis. Of those 48%; the average daily intake was 2.6 glasses of soda per day.
Despite soda intake being linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular difficulties, nearly half of the US population still drinks soda on a daily basis. Most Americans trust the FDA to ban harmful food and drink from our store shelves, but unfortunately that is not the case.
Let’s demystify the unrecognizable ingredients of popular sodas in the US so you can be informed of what they do upon consumption!
Artificial Flavors are synthetic and made from chemicals. They are a combination of multiple ingredients including chemicals, solvents, and preservatives like MSG, propylene glycol, BHA and more.
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in diet sodas. It is linked to an increased risk of brain tumors, lymphomas, leukemia, and heart disease. Studies show that replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners increases appetite, causing subjects to consume more calories, which hinders weight loss and successful weight management.
Caramel Color is simply added to give our soda products the appealing caramel color we all know and love. It is made by heating ammonia and sulfites under high pressure, and produces a cancerous substance called 4 Methylimidazole (4-Mel). In 2007 a research study showed 4-Mel led to cancer in mice, yet there is currently no FDA limit on 4-Mel in food and drink in America.
Citric Acid and Phosphoric Acid are used to give soda its tangy flavor and to prevent mold and bacteria growth, which can flourish in sugary substances. These acidify your body and drastically erode tooth enamel. A study found that after soaking extracted teeth in Phosphoric Acid for just 48 hours, the teeth lost 5% of their weight in that short about of time. Citric Acid, which is usually derived from a mold developed with GMO corn, can also cause gut irritation.
High Fructose Corn Syrup is used as a sweetener that sounds misleadingly natural. It is made from cornstarch and is known to increase appetite, weight gain, risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and dementia.
MSG is a flavor enhancer – it is specifically added to sodas and processed foods to increase cravings and desirability. MSG is a known excitotoxin, it excites brain cells (to the point of damage), and causes a genuine craving for more of the same. MSG has been linked to mental disorders, depression, headaches, obesity, and increased insulin production.
Natural Flavors take the cake when it comes to misleading consumers – as these are far from natural. A cocktail of chemicals derived from anything made in “nature”. Natural Flavors are used to make processed food taste more real and unprocessed. Each flavor contains numerous ingredients including synthetic chemicals, GMO ingredients, and MSG.
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate are used as preservatives in soda. When combined with Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) or Erythorbic Acid it produces Benzene, a known carcinogen. This combination is found in some sodas on the market.
Sucralose is used as an artificial sweetener in many diet sodas and is made by chlorinating sugar. Sucralose has been linked to blood cancers and weight gain.
Sources:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/408512-neurological-effect-of-monosodium-glutamate/
https://foodbabe.com/ingredients-to-avoid/
https://foodbabe.com/3-proven-strategies-to-quit-soda-for-good/
https://www.livescience.com/7198-acids-popular-sodas-erode-tooth-enamel.html
https://www.livestrong.com/article/468217-why-is-phosphoric-acid-bad-for-you/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/424346-what-is-potassium-benzoate/
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