A carbonated soft drink has remained popular since it was invented by the American chemist John Pemberton in 1886, and ten years later the Coca-Cola brand and the famous bottle design were invented. Now the company produces not only a recognizable drink format for everyone, but also its dietary version.
A bit of history
For more than a century, the drink has pleased its fans with its unchanged composition and recognizable taste. The bouquet of the drink is unique and its production is kept secret from competitors. Now they talk a lot about the dangers of cola, but not everyone knows exactly what its harm is. It is believed that Coca-Cola Light is completely harmless, because it does not contain empty calories.
At the beginning of the production of cola, the ingredients were not only not healthy, they were simply dangerous. After all, one of the main components was an extract from the leaves of a coca plant. Much later, they learned to make a drug from the same leaves. But at that time, a refreshing and invigorating drink found more and more new lovers of soda. Due to the fact that there have been cases of overdose of a soft drink, the recipe has been slightly changed. An extract from another part of the plant in which there were no narcotic substances began to be added to the drink.
Composition and calorie content
Everyone knows that a Coke recipe is a mystery with seven seals. However, some data is still there. The composition of Coca-Cola Light differs from the usual one only in the absence of sugar. In addition to extracts from plant leaves, sugar or aspartame, caffeine, citric acid, vanilla, caramel are included. To create just that unique aroma and taste of soda, which is popular all over the world, a secret mix of aromatic oils was compiled. Oils of orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and neroli in certain proportions allow you to find out the taste of Coca-Cola even with your eyes closed.
The calorie content of regular Coca-Cola is 42 kcal per 100 g. Carbohydrates in soda are 10.4 g. Given that no one drinks cola with 100 g glasses, more and more buyers are choosing Coca-Cola Light, which contains 0 calories. Sugar in this drink is replaced with artificial sweeteners - so the producers got rid of the high calorie content of Coca-Cola Light. Has the stake become harmless from these changes?
The negative effect of the drink on the body
How much has been said and written about the dangers of Coca-Cola. Everyone knows that carbonated drinks are very bad. And the harm from Coca-Cola Light is no less than from other carbonated drinks. But why is it bad and how many are few who think.
There is not a single healthy carbonated drink. The reason lies not only in the content of a large amount of sugar, but also in carbon dioxide, and in other acids in pop.
Coca-Cola Light does not contain sugar, but there are very dangerous substitutes for it: aspartame and sodium cyclamate. These substances are considered carcinogenic. Therefore, light is increasingly consumed by patients with diabetes and obese people. Which only exacerbates health problems. Drinks with aspartame can provoke people to consume foods with sugar, because after consuming artificial sweeteners, the body loses its ability to estimate the exact amount of calories consumed.
Carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola Light or Zero do not carry any nutritional value for the body: they do not have any useful vitamin, minerals or fiber.
Caffeine in cola can also pose certain health risks. Although the amount of caffeine in this soda is relatively small compared to a cup of coffee, some people may be very sensitive to its effects. These include pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions that make the body absorb caffeine more slowly than usual.
Caffeine can cause unpleasant side effects, such as anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping, especially when consumed in excess.
Despite the fact that Coca-Cola is really a very sweet product, even without sugar, at the same time it is salty. Few people know about this fact, however, one standard serving of cola contains 40 mg of sodium. What makes this drink deadly for people with hypertension. As you know, salt has the qualities of raising blood pressure.
The content of phosphoric and citric acids in the drink leads to problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Acids aggressively affect the lining of the stomach, and are also able to destroy tooth enamel. Frequent use of cola, regardless of whether it is regular or dietary, causes osteoporosis, because it leaches the necessary calcium from the bones.
The use of cola with ice, which is how its majority drinks, does not allow food to be completely digested in the stomach, which leads to gastritis, ulcers, and also problems with the intestines.
Diet Coke Benefits
Based on the foregoing, it can be understood that Coca-Cola, even light, is a completely unsafe product. Nevertheless, the use of it in small quantities, sometimes even useful to some groups of people.
By the way, diabetics are deprived of the joy of eating sweet foods. Therefore, they may very rarely spoil themselves with a glass of Coca-Cola Light, which will not raise the level of insulin in the blood.
Now a healthy lifestyle is widely promoted, where the main place is taken by proper nutrition and clean water. When eating a large number of vegetables and fruits, which contain a lot of fiber, a bezoar stone can form in the stomach. Cola can dissolve it. The high acidity of the carbonated drink acts like stomach acid and can relieve severe stomach pain, dissolve stone and allow food to be digested. But in this case, it should be consumed under the supervision of a doctor.
Coca-Cola Light (or Zero) can help focus. A little cola will allow caffeine to quickly enter the bloodstream and feel more alert.
What processes does the stake cause?
A couple of minutes after consuming cola, the sugar contained in a glass of drink inflicts a killer blow to the body. The only reason why huge amounts of sugar does not cause vomiting is orthophosphoric acid, which inhibits the action of sugar. Then there is a sharp increase in insulin in the blood. The liver processes excess sugar into fat.
A little later, caffeine is absorbed. Blood pressure rises, preventing drowsiness. The body begins to produce the hormone dopamine. Phosphoric acid binds minerals in the blood and removes them from the body with urine. The diuretic effect of the drink begins. All the water contained in Coca-Cola is removed. And there is a thirst.
Coca-Cola Light and Diet
Those who were on a diet know how difficult it is to struggle with the feeling of eating something sweet. Some have good willpower and can resist themselves. Others allow themselves to relax a little.
According to slimming reviews, Coca-Cola Light on a diet helps a lot. It seems to have eaten sweets, but without calories. Some nutritionists even advise sometimes to drink diet Coke so that there is no breakdown.
Trying for yourself or not is everyone's business. But you should consider the harm from cola.
How to use in the household?
There are areas of application for cola for which it does not matter if it is useful or harmful.
There are many tips on the net how to use the drink on the farm.
For example, you can clean the tiles or pipes from rust. And you can remove the scale in the kettle if you boil it with cola.
You can even wash it with cola. If you soak a greasy stain on clothes in Coca-Cola, the fat will quickly dissolve.
Coca-Cola can be used both inside and in everyday life. Before use, it is better to weigh the pros and cons. And then drink a glass of clean water.