1. Weight gain
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Coke is very high in fructose corn syrup which is associated with the increase in belly fat. Research shows that the majority of overweight adults drink one or two cans of coke per day and after 10 weeks its been shown that this significantly increases total body fat.
2. An overload of sugar in a short space of time
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Another problem with drinking cola and other sweet drinks if that it is so easy for you to consumer large amounts of sugar in a short window of time. This is the number one reason for excess belly fat and dental issues. So when you’re reaching for that other can of cola, maybe have a think about what it could be doing to your body.
3. Fine lines & wrinkles
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image source: reddit
Coke is dehydrating because of the caffeine in it – dehydration causes you to have dry skin, fine lines and wrinkles on your face and hands. The sugars in the drink speed up ageing and causes the caps of the ends of our chromosomes to shrink making the clock on our cells to shorten.
4. It’s basically as bad as smoking cigarettes
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Studies have shown that drinking coke accelarates ageing so much so that it’s just as bad as someone smoking cigarettes. It affects you on the inside as well as the outside, you skin becomes dry, dehydrated and in need of some TLC.
5. Headaches & migraines
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Sugars and artificial sweeteners that are found in Coke and Diet Coke are known to trigger headaches. The harmful combo of sweeteners and caffeine causes you to get pain in your head which can then turn into a migraine. People susceptible to migraines are found to consume foods and drinks full of artificial sweeteners.
6. A higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes
image source: insider
A large study taken showed that people who drink Coke are 26% more likely to develop diabetes that people who don’t. Another study which was taken over the space of eight years with 91,000 people, found that females who drink one Coke a day are twice as likely to develop diabetes as women who drink less than one soda a month.
7. It affects your blood pressure
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Drinking one of more Coke a day is directly linked to having higher blood pressure. A study which was taken in both the UK and US in 27,000 middle age people determined that one of the biggest causes of high blood pressure was regular soda consumption.
8. Your big toe will become swollen & you’re at risk of developing gout
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Gout is an inflammatory disorder that can be triggered by many things. Drinking too much fructose corn syrup can cause painful crystals to form in the joints which is a classic symptom of gout. Men in particular are at more of a risk of getting gout than men who drink one or less cans of soda per month.
9. Going cold turkey
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If you’re one of those people who drinks a can of coke every day then you abruptly stop, you will probably start to feel the telltale signs of withdrawal. You’ll experience flu-like symptoms, fatigue, irritability, constipation, insomnia and a lack of concentration.
10. It’s not good on your teeth
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Whenever we drink or eat the sugars we consume, harmful bacteria builds up in our mouths. Sugary beverages like Coke causes cavities to form and erosion to occur. When you do drink coke, you should drink it properly and not sip it, because the longer the liquid sugar is in your mouth, the more harmful it will be on your teeth.
11. You might develop osteoporosis or brittle bones
image source: theuniversityofvermont
Drinking any carbonated drink can cause issues for you but Coke in particular is associated with reductions in bone mineral density in women. Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis, low bone density is also linked to low bone density making you more susceptible to fractures.
12. Cola makes you crave even more sugar
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It’s quite hard to prove that people can get addicted to sugary drinks like Coke but one study found that sugar binging causes a release of dopamine – the “happy hormone”. The more Coke you drink, the more you’ll crave the sugars to release the “happy hormone”.
13. It can affect you in the short term as well
image source: scientificamerican
With concerns of heart disease and diabetes on the rise in a lot of countries, people are really starting to rethink their diets and what they consume on a day to day basis. There are some huge concerns on how drinks like Coke can affect your body long term and short term…
14. The first 10 minutes after drinking a can
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Coca cola as we know, is full of sugars! Within the first 10 minutes of drinking a can or a bottle, your system will be hit with 10 teaspoons of sugar – which is 100% of your recommended daily intake. The phosphoric acid cuts the flavour and overwhelming sweetness to stop you from throwing up.
15. 20 minutes after…
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20 minutes after drinking Coke, your blood sugars spike causing an insulin burst. Your liver turns any sugar it gets hold of into fat – which is plenty of it. As we just said, you swallow 10 teaspoons of sugar in one can so as you can imagine, that is quite a lot of sugar turned into fat.
16. 40 minutes after…
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Your pupils will start to dilate, your blood pressure will rise as a response to the sugar in your bloodstream and the adenosine receptors in your brain are blocked which prevent any drowsiness. This is why drinking a can of Coke will immediately perk you up when you’re tired – but beware of the crash you’ll feel afterwards.
17. 45 minutes after…
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Five minutes after your brain prevents you from feeling drowsy, your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centres in your brain. This is exactly the same way heroin works. Studies may not have proved that Coke is actually addictive, but if it does the same thing as heroin, I’m sure it can get quite addictive.
18. 60 minutes after…
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The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine which provides you a boost to your metabolism. The high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners increase the urinary excretion of calcium and increases your need to go to the toilet.
19. The sugar crash
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Just like you experience a high from all of the sugars, you’ll all experience the lows too. The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. This makes you want to go to the toilet to pee which will allow your body to evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was heading to your bones.
20. You’ll become irritable
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As you start to come down from the sugar high you’ll become irritable and feel sluggish again. You’ve also pee’d away all of the water that was in the Coke which means your no longer hold any valuable nutrients your body could have used from the Coke.
21. It increases your cortisol levels
image source: BMJcasereport
Caffeine is a stimulant, Coke is full of caffeine as we already know, which means it increases activity in your brain and your nervous system. The caffeine in Coke increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline.
22. Heart palpitations
image source: reddit
The two active ingredients in Coke are sugar and caffeine, both of which spike your energy levels. If you turn to a can of Coke to give you energy levels when you hit your mid afternoon slump, you may find that the shock to your system will cause you to feel heart palpitations.
23. Poor short term memory
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People who drink sugary drinks like Coke are proven to have poorer short term memory, a smaller overall brain volume and a significantly smaller hippocampus which is the area of the brain that is important for learning and memory.
24. Decreased serotonin levels & increased noradrenaline levels
image source: sci.news
It is well know that sugar is bad for your body and your mental health but research shows that the role of regular and diet drinks like Coke in depression is emerging. Studies have shown that regular intake of Coke may affect your mental health and over the space of 5 years, adults are at a greater risk of developing depression.
25. An increase in sensitivity to pain
image source: reddit
The caffeine in Coca Cola impacts the central nervous system. One person can experience the jitters after a shot of caffeine, others could drink ten espresso’s a day and not experience anything but caffeine sensitivity can also fluctuate day by day based on multiple factors.
26. Hypersensitivity
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image source: verywellhealth
People who have a heightened hypersensitivity to caffeine can’t even tolerate the smallest amounts of and because of people’s sensitivity to caffeine, their immune systems almost shut down as caffeine is treated as a harmful invader that your body attempts to fight off with antibodies.
27. Recent research shows that you’re at a higher risk of suffering a stroke or developing dementia if you drink cola regularly
image source: harvardhealth
Recent research shows that you’re at a higher risk of suffering a stroke or developing dementia if you drink cola regularly, the study found that drinks like Coca Cola increased the levels of compounds and chemicals that interfere in brain activity increasing your risk of strokes and dementia.
28. It affects your sleep cycle
image source: thedeepsleepco.
Part of this study was taken on people who drink it most days and how it affects the person’s sleep cycle when they drink it versus when they don’t. Compounds that affect the quality of sleep and duration of a person’s sleep cycle are found in Coca Cola. These can also contribute to the development of ADHD in children.
29. You can develop kidney stones easier when you drink Coca Cola
image source: Reddit
People who tend to turn to Cola over water may find that they struggle with certain illnesses. When someone drinks Coke, they will wee more which means that any water and goodness that is in Coke that will be nutritious for your body is already flushed out in your pee which means that you’re more likely to develop things like kidney stones.
30. What about diet coke?
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In case you were thinking Diet Coke may be healthier for you, think again. Not only is it just as bad for you, but it may have a negative impact of Aspartame, which is an artificial sweeteners that’s essentially poisonous to the digestive system. Sometimes I wonder how these things are even allowed to be sold?