Youngsters today tend to drink more soft drinks or carbonated drinks than water. An average of two bottles of soft drinks per day is consumed by both young and old. Actually, there are some who even drink more. Possible health concerns are implied by this.
What is a soft drink made of? Imagine one glass of water and add eight tablespoons of sugar plus a dose of chemicals and you get a soft drink. The extra sugar gives you at least five undesirable and unhealthy side effects. These are unbalanced nutrition, extra fat storage, uneven blood sugar, delayed digestion, and acid rebound.
Well, the diet soft drink might be the answer, right? Wrong! Most carbonated beverages, sugared or not, with all their colorings, preservatives, flavorings, and other such chemicals may irritate sensitive stomach lining. This is because of the phosphoric acid contained in the drink. The same phosphoric acid is a powerful chemical used to etch glass. Just imagine what it can do to your intestines and other vital organs.
The body needs to eliminate the phosphorous to cope. It will be eliminated through the kidneys by combining it with calcium as a defensive mechanism. With the loss of the calcium, osteoporosis is possible. Each phosphorous containing drink is taking a little calcium from your body every time.
The best possible drink is water, water, and water. It has no calories, needs no digestion, does not irritate your intestines, stomach, and vital organs, and is exactly what your body needs to carry on with life processes. Six to eight glasses of water is perfect for your daily need. Rink enough water to keep your urine pale.
Especially during hot season, drinking water is a vital necessity to keep you alive, conscious, alert, and healthy. Water is the miracle drink any time for all ages.
References:
Gilliard, D. and Gray, H. (2012). Lifetime Health Lessons. Pierre and Pierre Publishing Inc. Retrieved on April 2, 2016.
Kinro, G. (2010). When The Heat is On. Health and Home. May 2013.
Romers, V. (2015). Water: Benefits and Miracles. ISBN 94568309. Retrieved on April 3, 2016.
By: Larah May Dela Rosa | Nurse II | DepED Bataan
