How Soft Drinks Impact Your Health

SOFT DRINKS

A soft drink is a beverage that typically contains water, usually a sweetener, and usually a flavoring agent. The sweetener may be sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, sugar substitutes.

HOW ARE SOFT DRINKS SWEETENED

Soft drinks can be sweetened with sucrose/ table sugar or a range of artificial sweeteners. Table sugar or sucrose is widely used commercially and comes from the sugar cane plant. The amount of sugar used in a soft drink is about 10% - about the same as you would find in a fruit juice. In fruit juice the sugar is mainly fructose - a simple sugar found mostly in fruit.

HOW SOFT DRINKS FLAVOURED

Natural flavourings are derived from fruits, vegetables, nuts, bark, fruit juices, leaves, herbs, spices, oils and other natural extracts. In soft drinks containing natural flavours and fruit juices - a preservative may be added to prevent spoilage.

Artificial flavourings are used to give consumers greater choice in taste. Artificial flavours often reproduce those found naturally and are termed "nature identical.“

WHAT OTHER ACTIVE INGREDIENTS DO SOFT DRINKS CONTAIN

Acids such as citric and phosphoric acids, add a refreshing tartness or bite and help preserve the quality of a soft drink.

Caffeine has a distinctive taste that heightens the flavours. Caffeine has been part of cola drinks since their introduction, although caffeine-free cola drinks are now available. The amount of caffeine in a cola drink is one quarter to one third that found in an equal amount of coffee.

DISADVANTAGES OF SOFTDRINKS The Disadvantages of softdrinks are: Dehydration Too Much Sugar Empty Calories Carbonation Reduction in Healthy Foods