There are many things that can harm us in our daily lives, including something we wouldn’t have thought of: drinks.
Most of them are harmful because of the amount of added sugar while others affect certain internal organs by the amount consumed.
Water
It is possible to die from drinking too much water. Water intoxication is actually excessive hydration and it can cause brain problems. Usually, at water drinking contests is found the possibility of consuming large amounts of water and experiencing hyperhydration. It’s nearly impossible to just drink a lot of water without a reason. When people feel the need to drink more water they may have diabetes, but you don’t have to worry if you don’t have any other symptoms. The lethal dose of water is 6-7L.
Coffee
Coffee is one of the best delicious drinks which gives us energy. Too much caffeine can affect us and can even cause heart and sleep problems. In higher doses, coffee is lethal. The caffeine powder is the most dangerous because you don’t realize how much you take and one spoonful of this powder is the equivalent of 120 cups of coffee. The recommended dose of coffee per day is a maximum of 4 cups and for caffeine powder is a max of 200 mg.
Coca-Cola
It is possible to die from Coca-Cola? Yes, Coca-Cola which contains sugar is very bad for your health. Two liters of Coca-Cola contains 234g of sugar and is above the recommended daily dose of sugar. Too much Cola can easily kill you because of the amounts of sugar it contains.
Energy drinks
Usually, energy drinks contain a huge amount of caffeine, added sugar but also vitamins such as Vitamin B, guarana ( a plant native to the Amazon that also contains caffeine), ginseng, taurine ( an amino acid that is found naturally in meat, fish, dairy products and human milk), and L-carnitine (it helps the body turn fat into energy). The global energy drink market was worth $75 billion in 2021 and is forecast to reach $150 billion by 2030.
“Overall, the concern is that these vitamins, amino acids, and herbals are often in higher concentrations than naturally in food or plants, and the effects, when combined especially with caffeine, may be enhanced,” said Katherine Zeratsky, a clinical dietician from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Children “should not consume” them, cautions the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The high amount of caffeine they contain can lead to serious heart and blood vessel problems such as increased heartbeat and increased blood pressure as well as heart rhythm disturbances.
Fruit juices
The high amount of added sugar in these juices makes it very bad for your health and worse for your child. In addition, pasteurizing fruit juices can also reduce some of the nutrients in the juice itself.
Yes, fruit juice contains “natural” sugar, but that doesn’t make it any healthier than the sugar in cola, and in fact, the World Health Organization classifies juice sugars to be the same as soda sugars.
Flavoured Water
Naturally flavored water is a good substitute for H2O if it is sugar-free and not one with added artificial flavors that often pack excess calories. At least sugar-free flavored water is better than no water at all.
Freshly squeezed fruit juice
A lot of people praise freshly squeezed fruit juice but after squeezing 90% of the fiber is removed and the amount of vitamins and antioxidants is relatively less than in the whole fruit. Fresh juices are no healthier than eating whole fruit and vegetables.
Research shows that consumption of fructose (sugar from fruits) without the corresponding fiber, as commonly present in fruit juices, is associated with metabolic syndrome, liver damage, and obesity. This type of juice is not recommended for children.
Sweetened nut milks
Nut milk is healthy for us as long as we buy one that is unsweetened. Most contain so much sugar to enhance their flavor. There is plenty of plant-based milk, from almond, coconut, hemp, rice, and soy to oat and pea milk. Nutritionally, soy milk is the best plant-based milk.
Sports drinks
Many of us consume drinks dedicated to performance athletes. Sports drinks are designed for performance athletes to stay hydrated and energized but contain a high amount of sugar and minerals to compensate for losses. Instead, you could opt for plain water or unsweetened coconut water.
Sweetened iced tea
A glass of iced tea contains about 24 grams of added sugar, which is exactly the daily limit recommended by the American Heart Association. Fortunately, many iced tea companies also sell black or green tea that is low in calories and sugar, but you still need to be careful about how much you drink.
Premixed alcoholic beverages
Probably the most dangerous drink that comes premixed. It comes with the dangers hidden in the added sugar and the dehydration it brings the next morning. But if you choose to consume such a drink, you should steer clear of premixed drinks that contain energy drinks and alcohol in the same bottle. Not only alcohol but also energy drinks dilate your blood vessels and make your heart beat so fast that you think it will burst out of your chest.
Instead of these, try to make your own mix at home.
Read more:
12 Things You Should Never Put In The Microwave
15 Rarest, Weirdest and Beautiful Sea Creatures
