What do we subsitute for water when we feel thirsty? Coca-cola;Pepsi;Thumbs-up;KingCola; and many others. These non-alcoholic drinks are called **“SOFT DRINKS”.*
But these cannot substitute for water;they will only replace lost fluid from body and give quick energy;because of **Caffeine(in some) and SUGAR!** It is to be worrying for parents whose children are addicted to soft drinks.It is upto perents to make their children understand drawbacks of such drinks;which give nothing but **“EMPTY CALORIES”.*
*DRAWBACKS-*
1)They are high in *SUGAR;(almost 7 teaspoonful of sugar in 300 ml bottle)*which will
increase your weight.
2)Being high in sugar;*TOOTH DECAY* is very common.
3)All these drinks have got *ACIDIC ph;*which can ERODE not only enamel of teeth
but can cause harm to inner lining(endothelium) of STOMACH;(more prone to
ULCERS)
4)You have all side effects of *CAFFEINE!*(because all cola drinks have Caffeine).With
caffeine children do not sleep at night. This is also habit forming!(see my review
on caffeine).
*DIET COLA:PEPSI-** These drinks have everything same except SUGAR;so caloric value goes down. The sugar is substituted by *ASPARTAME; K-ACESULPHATE;*etc.
Aspartame is known to be more sweet than sugar. In low quantity it is harmless;because it is NATURAL AMINO ACID found in food protein! Many theories are put forward about side effect of aspartame; but nothing concrete!These drinks are advisable for weight conscious and DIABETIC patients.
But I do not advise any of these drinks. I advise plain water; coco-nut water; fresh lime-juice(without sugar); butter milk or fruit juices. They give you nourishment without giving extra calories!