A can of cola (330 milliliters) carries around ten teaspoons of sugar into the body. But the popular drink also contains phosphoric acid and caffeine. A mixture that sets some processes in motion in the body.
Sometimes a cold cola is a treat – even if we know that we are putting a lot of sugar and a few calories into our bodies, which is not suitable for our health. However, a lot more happens in the organism after you have drunk a can of caffeinated soft drink. And that is not very desirable.
How unhealthy is cola? The portal “Wake Up World” has documented and shows what happens in the body in different phases after drinking a can of cola (330 milliliters).
After 10 minutes
One can of Coke carries ten teaspoons of sugar into the body. An awful idea. You can still enjoy the drink due to the phosphoric acid it contains, which softens the sweet taste.
After 20 minutes
The high sugar intake has caused the blood sugar level to spike quite a bit, and the can of cola has thus promoted a large insulin output. The liver reacts by converting excess sugar that the body cannot directly metabolize into fat.
After 40 minutes
… the body has completely absorbed the caffeine from the cola. The pupils dilate, blood pressure rises, the liver transports more sugar into the bloodstream. We feel more awake because the so-called adenosine receptors in the brain are blocked, and consequently, drowsiness is prevented.
After 45 minutes
About three-quarters of an hour after drinking a can of cola, the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine is increased in the body. Dopamine is also known as the happiness hormone for its stimulating, sometimes pain-relieving effect. Consequently, the reward center in the brain is stimulated, and we feel good.
After 60 minutes
The phosphoric acids from cola bind calcium, magnesium, and zinc in the intestine and thus further boost the metabolism. Large amounts of sugar and sweetener increase the excretion of essential calcium through the urine. Caffeine’s diuretic properties now take full effect and excrete valuable calcium, magnesium, and zinc. In addition, the body loses sodium, electrolytes, and water via the urine.
The blood sugar level now drops rapidly, and we suddenly feel tired—the result: a desire for another Coke, which would (briefly) perk us up again. You are caught in a cycle in which the body demands more and more sugar.
Conclusion
Drinking cola now and then is, of course, totally okay (if you have a generally conscious diet). After this illustrative information, you probably don’t want to overdo it anyway. The light version is not a healthy alternative; it is inferior to its sugary counterparts in its unhealthy effect on the body. A study from France has shown that they damage intestinal and heart health.
Sources
1Meredith Wade. What Happens to Your Body When You Drink a Can of Coke? (accessed 29.11.2021)
2. Chazelas, E., Debras, C., Srour, B. (2020). Sugary Drinks, Artificially-Sweetened Beverages, and Cardiovascular Disease in the nutrient-Santé Cohort. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
3. fitbook.de
picture: Image by Ernesto Rodriguez from Pixabay
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