close
Are the ‘healthy’ fizzy drink options any good?
September 2021 | Reading time: 4 minutes
Table of Contents
There are countless ‘healthy’ fizzy drink options in the market, but do they actually offer any benefits over their full-fat counterparts?
At the end of each of our cryolipolysis sessions, you will be firmly instructed to stay consistently hydrated, drinking up to 2-3 litres of fluids daily. The fact remains that there is no substitute for water. However, too much of anything (no matter how sensible) can eventually start to feel tiresome.
When told to drink lots of fluids, many of us tend to turn to other pleasant-tasting beverages like juice, smoothies, tea, and carbonated beverages. After all, they are all drinkable, tasty liquids that help maintain the body’s hydration. Although none are quite precisely the right substitutes for water, it is the fizzy drinks that have the worst reputation.
Over the years, carbonated drinks have acquired notoriety for their high sugar content and contribution to health hazards such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, among others. The high-fructose corn syrup found in the most popular ones raises the blood sugar levels while swiftly turning into fat.
Obviously, there have also been claims highlighting the health benefits of soft drinks; one time, the American Heart Association stated that the amount of caffeine found in sodas tends to boost brain function. Even if one were to focus on the benefits of these beverages, the risks still outweigh the benefits.
The ‘healthier’ soft drink choices
In order to break the taboo on soft drinks and provide consumers with more choices, manufacturers have been selling ‘diet’ or ‘healthy’ alternatives alongside their full-flavour fare for quite some time now. If looked at closely, these healthy substitutes mostly replace the sugar content with artificial sweeteners. Replacing sugar with the likes of aspartame and saccharin is not without controversy and distrust either.
The diet drinks
The most common and longest existing low-sugar alternatives are the diet carbonated beverages. These are ideal for consumers who have health conditions that require them to restrict sugar intake. They are also pretty much perfect for the health-conscious folk who are fond of the sweet, fizzy taste but are not keen on ingesting the extra calories. Plus, there is substantially less decay in terms of dental health due to considerably less (or completely absent) sugar.
Nevertheless, it is not all pros either.
The artificial sweeteners in these drinks activate the brain’s reward centres which otherwise react to sugar. But they do not provide any significant calories, thus no energy either. Subsequently, it becomes difficult for the brain to regulate energy. According to a 2014 study, people who are used to drinking sugar-less or low-sugar soft drinks tend to consume more solid foods to achieve the calories compared to drinkers of sugary drinks.
Soft drinks with added vitamins
Many soft drinks, of both regular and diet varieties, are marketed as health drinks. These fizzy beverages are fortified with various vitamins like B3, B6, B12 and E.
While these drinks may provide you with nutrients and can contribute to your overall wellbeing, they still present the same drawbacks when consumed excessively as soft drinks without vitamin enrichment.
Drinks with ‘natural’ sweeteners
Another sugar-free/low-sugar soft drink option are the ones labelled as containing ‘natural’ sweeteners. These drinks supposedly contain fruit juice, cane sugar, or naturally occurring sweeteners such as stevia.
Though relating ‘natural’ with ‘healthy’ is instinctive, there is no adequate evidence that shows that ‘natural’ sugars or sweeteners are safer for your health than high-fructose corn syrup.
Moreover, any type of added sugar, ‘natural’ or otherwise, when taken excessively, will lead to diabetes, obesity, and dental issues, among other problems.
End of the day, water is still the best and most neutral choice to stay hydrated. However, if you want to mix things up with soft drinks here and there, be sure to do so in moderation. Whether the soft drinks are full-fat or diet, consuming either in excess will result in risks to your health.
Related Articles
What Are the Risks of Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation?
Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation is thought to be a solution to the looseness of the vagina. A lack of tightness in...
Spices to naturally boost the immune system
A brief look at four everyday spices that go a long way in helping the body stay healthy and strong....
Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Does it work?
We take a brief look at the types and effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy and how the skin benefits from...
The Best Fitness Trackers
Which fitness tracker is right for you? We live in a society that is becoming ever more obsessed with health...
Natural Remedies to Stop Hair Loss
We all want a full head of hair. Sometimes hair loss can be genetic, but pollution, stress, and chemicals can significantly damage the...
Embrace the Lifestyle You’ve Always Dreamed Of
What is Your Ideal Lifestyle?We all have an idea of our dream lifestyle, but it's easy to get caught up...
New Year, New You: Ideas for New Year’s Resolutions
It's 2019 already! We all know what that means - it's your chance to start over and do things right....
Living Your Best Life: Embrace the Lifestyle Change
What is a Lifestyle?A lifestyle is the way we live our lives – it encompasses our daily routines, habits, attitudes,...
Embrace a Balanced Lifestyle: Secrets to Living Your Best Life
What is a Balanced Lifestyle?A balanced lifestyle is all about finding harmony between various aspects of your life, such as...
Black Friday: Where, When and Why
What's the DEAL with Black Friday? Our treatments are 50% for Black Friday (see prices), but what exactly is it,...
Embrace the Life You Love: Tips for Cultivating Your Ideal Lifestyle
Define Your VisionThe first step in embracing the life you love is to define what your ideal lifestyle looks like....
Staying fit over 60
At around 60 years old, you may find it a difficult task to maintain the active lifestyle that you had...Fill out the form below or click here to arrange a callback at a specific time.
Quick Contact
"*" indicates required fields
Happy Customers
1,703 Reviews and Counting
Mobina carried out this treatment and she is v knowledgable, professional and attentive throughout. I’ve got my next appointment booked & can’t wait to see the results after that session.
I would highly recommend this treatment and Mobina.