Have you ever wondered exactly what Coca-Cola do to your body after consumption?
Sugary drinks are considered a major contributor to health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. British pharmacist Niraj Naik has created an infographic that explains what happens to the body within an hour of drinking a can of Coca-Cola.
There are approximately 10 teaspoons of added sugar in a single can of cola. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend consuming no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily, meaning drinking just one serving of cola a day could take us well above these guidelines.
As such, it is no surprise that sugary drink consumption is associated with an array of health conditions. People who drink 1-2 cans of sugary beverages daily are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and last month, Medical News Today reported on a study claiming 183500 global deaths each year are down to sugary drink consumption!.
Coca-Cola comparable to Heroin
The intense sweetness of Coca-Cola as a result of its high sugar content should make us vomit as soon as it enters the body. However, the phosphoric acid in the beverage dulls the sweetness, enabling us to keep the drink down.
Blood sugar levels increase dramatically within 20 minutes of drinking the Cola causing a burst of insulin. The liver then turns the high amounts of sugar circulating our body into fat.
Within 40 minutes, the body has absorbed all of the caffeine from the Cola, causing a dilation of pupils and an increase in blood pressure. By this point, the adenosine receptors in the brain have been blocked, preventing fatigue.
Five minutes later, production of dopamine has increased – a neurotransmitter that helps control the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. The way Coca-Cola stimulates these centers is comparable to the effects of heroin, making us want another can.
An hour after drinking the beverage, a sugar crash will begin, causing irritability and drowsiness. In addition, the water from the Cola will have been cleared from the body via urination, along with nutrients that are important for our health.
This is not only applicable to Coca-Cola, but to all caffeinated fizzy drinks.
“Coke is not just high in high fructose corn syrup, but it is also packed with refined salts and caffeine,” writes Naik on his blog The Renegade Pharmacist. “Regular consumption of these ingredients in the high quantities you find in Coke and other processed foods and drinks, can lead to higher blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.”
“However a small amount now and then won’t do any major harm,” he adds. “The key is moderation.”
Source: http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/coke-infographic-health-effects/2015/07/30/id/659652/