Most of us have opted for healthy choices for our family and ourselves. It is not an easy process to break bad habits and relearn what you know about food. That is why you must stop bad habits before they start. Kids are especially susceptible to the dangers of soda. Below are reasons that you should never let your kids drink soda.
1. It’s Addictive
Soda can be addictive based on the ingredients, but the main one is caffeine. Caffeine is the most used mood-altering drug on the planet. A report from Johns Hopkins states that caffeine creates physical dependence, and those who experience this admit to having altered moods and cannot quit even though they want to. Children are not immune to this. The addictive properties are the most significant danger of drinking soda.
Studies have been done on sugar with similar findings as sugar can lead to dependence that causes withdrawals and cravings. Even though you pick a diet soda that does not have sugar, it is not a good thing. Artificial sweeteners can trick your brain into wanting more, which causes dependence. Drinking soda is more than a bad habit, but it is a severe dependence to quit.
2. It has no nutritional value.
Even though it may seem obvious, soda does not have any nutrition that our bodies need. It does provide empty calories, which can cause appetite suppression. When a kid consumes, soda can cause children to eat fewer foods to give their body energy. Those who happen to drink soda regularly are more likely to end up getting fewer amounts of magnesium, calcium, and vitamin A, which are vital to your health.
3. It’s harming the brains of children.
The brain of a child will continue to develop during adolescence. Whenever they drink soda, they are consuming chemicals that will alter their brain. MSG is an excitotoxin that can damage neurons, and it can be found in citric acid and artificial flavors of soda. High levels of excitotoxin have been linked to behavioral issues, learning disorders, brain damage, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and even brain tumors.
The sweetener aspartame, which is found in diet soda, can cause the same effect. When you consume aspartame for long periods, it can cause an imbalance in the brain. The methanol content of aspartame is something to worry about because it converts into formaldehyde, a neurotoxin.
4. It weakens the bones.
Another danger of drinking soda is that it can deplete calcium in the bones. Phosphorus, which is found in sodas, can cause bone loss when there is not enough calcium. Caffeine can keep your body from absorbing calcium and lower bone density. When a kid drinks soda, they will not get the right amount of calcium-rich beverages or milk.
5. It causes bad behavior
Children who drink soda are likely to experience a variety of behavioral problems. There can be spikes and drops in blood sugar caused by caffeine, sugar, or artificial colors. Children who drink soda are more aggressive, withdrawn, and have trouble paying attention, according to a survey conducted among more than 3000 mothers.
6. It destroys teeth
Acids in soda, and sugars in them, are not suitable for your teeth. Neither citric acid nor phosphorus will be good for your teeth if they are exposed to them. Sodas, thus, can be regularly consumed with a risk of tooth erosion because they are addictive beverages.
7. It contributes to childhood diabetes
Aspartame, which is found in diet sodas, caused glucose intolerance in mice, which is considered an early indicator of metabolic syndrome. Even moderate soda consumption may not lessen your risk of cancer. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be increased by 22% by drinking a single 12 ounce can of soda a day.
8. There’s a higher risk of obesity among kids who like soda for its sweetness
According to an observational study conducted over two years, children who consume sugary beverages are much more likely to become obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is also higher among those who eat many fatty or sweet food as children. Even selecting diet soda to avoid sugar will not solve this problem, as aspartame can make the brain crave sugar.
9. Drinking soda can increase your risk of heart disease
The topic of heart disease will hardly ever come up during discussions about children. Nevertheless, given that just one soda is linked to increased cardiovascular events by 61%, it’s a topic worth discussing. Drinking such amounts of soda also increases heart disease risk by 19%. The dependence on soda by children is a factor, especially if they are more likely to drink it quite often. They will consume far more soda throughout their lifetime than someone who began drinking it in adulthood, increasing the risks and dangers of soda for children.
10. Digestion can be affected by soda
Especially when sodas replace water, sodas and caffeine can dehydrate you. Caffeine and sugar can increase stomach acids, causing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As more gas is produced as a result of carbonation, IBS can also be triggered.
Is there an alternative to soda?
If you want to keep your kids away from sodas entirely, water and milk are simply the best options. If you want to avoid soda, the juice is a better choice, but watch the amount of sugar in your juices. If your child requires something more than just these options, there are several healthier beverage alternatives.
