How harmful are soda, energy drinks , carbonated drinks?

vm007
vm007 Posts: 241 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hello,

As it states? Just to clarify- keeping calories in check -these diet soda, monster, red bull and all of these, do they have any harmful side effect on the body, teeth and what not?

Any adverse effects whatsoever? I consume around 3 x 160 mg caffeine and then 2-3 diet soda -basically 40-50 calories worth of stuff in all of those combined.


TIA
«1

Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited May 2018
    I get headaches if I have too much aspartame. But that's me. You may not.

    Your teeth will be fine, assuming you brush and floss.

    I have a Monster Ultra Zero every afternoon.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    Maybe on the teeth, though if you brush it's not a big deal. I drink over a litre of diet pop daily and my health has improved with my weight and fitness levels.
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    To be perfectly candid - I'm mostly worried about teeth lol- I brush twice a day with a fancy brush lol spent so much money on it- Oral B 5000 -just so I don't harm them. I only consume 0 -10 calorie beverages. I don't even know how the other ones taste yet because my caloric allowance doesn't allow me to spend calories on these drinks. I mean 220-260 per can would obliterate my other food items.

    So I wanted to just make sure -that I'm not unknowingly harming my body-you know since most of the ingredients in them -are unknown to me- as in I don't know what they do but i don't really look beyond calories most of the time. Taurine and Ginseng and what not
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    "Ready!",
    "Aim!",
    "Pour the condemned a soda!"

    Said no executioner ever.

    That said, fizzy soda drinks are sufficiently different from energy drinks that I have specific instructions from a cardiologist who wants me to stay alive that I must avoid energy drinks.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    edited May 2018
    vm007 wrote: »
    To be perfectly candid - I'm mostly worried about teeth lol- I brush twice a day with a fancy brush lol spent so much money on it- Oral B 5000 -just so I don't harm them. I only consume 0 -10 calorie beverages. I don't even know how the other ones taste yet because my caloric allowance doesn't allow me to spend calories on these drinks. I mean 220-260 per can would obliterate my other food items.

    So I wanted to just make sure -that I'm not unknowingly harming my body-you know since most of the ingredients in them -are unknown to me- as in I don't know what they do but i don't really look beyond calories most of the time. Taurine and Ginseng and what not

    Since you asked, I Googled. This is from a dentist's website: https://www.greenhillsdentalkc.com/blog/2017/02/diet-soda-vs-regular-soda-which-is-better-for-teeth

    I will admit that my teeth aren't in great shape, but I can't blame it all on diet pop. Not when I went about 7 years without seeing a dentist and waited till the nerve was exposed before I had root canal. Not when my brushing could best be described as "perfunctory" and flossing was virtually non-existent.

    If you read the link, you'll see some tips for minimizing the damage.

    ETA: Found this at https://www.livescience.com/7198-acids-popular-sodas-erode-tooth-enamel.html
    Richard Adamson, a scientific consultant to the American Beverage Association, called the study "unrealistic," pointing out, among other things, that toothbrushing was not factored in.

    "The most protective factor you have in your mouth is saliva, which has both a diluting and a buffering effect," Adamson told LiveScience. "Of course, you're not going to mirror reality (with the new study)."

    "There are many foods which are as important as soft drinks in oral health and dental hygiene," Adamson said. "Fruit and fruit juices and cider and food such as pickles and salad dressing and wine—those are just as important in regards to general erosion as soft drinks. There is no single food or beverage that is responsible for dental erosion. There are numerous factors. The thing is to enjoy everything in moderation."
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    vm007 wrote: »
    To be perfectly candid - I'm mostly worried about teeth lol- I brush twice a day with a fancy brush lol spent so much money on it- Oral B 5000 -just so I don't harm them. I only consume 0 -10 calorie beverages. I don't even know how the other ones taste yet because my caloric allowance doesn't allow me to spend calories on these drinks. I mean 220-260 per can would obliterate my other food items.

    So I wanted to just make sure -that I'm not unknowingly harming my body-you know since most of the ingredients in them -are unknown to me- as in I don't know what they do but i don't really look beyond calories most of the time. Taurine and Ginseng and what not

    Since you asked, I Googled. This is from a dentist's website: https://www.greenhillsdentalkc.com/blog/2017/02/diet-soda-vs-regular-soda-which-is-better-for-teeth

    I will admit that my teeth aren't in great shape, but I can't blame it all on diet pop. Not when I went about 7 years without seeing a dentist and waited till the nerve was exposed before I had root canal. Not when my brushing could best be described as "perfunctory" and flossing was virtually non-existent.

    If you read the link, you'll see some tips for minimizing the damage.

    ETA: Found this at https://www.livescience.com/7198-acids-popular-sodas-erode-tooth-enamel.html
    Richard Adamson, a scientific consultant to the American Beverage Association, called the study "unrealistic," pointing out, among other things, that toothbrushing was not factored in.

    "The most protective factor you have in your mouth is saliva, which has both a diluting and a buffering effect," Adamson told LiveScience. "Of course, you're not going to mirror reality (with the new study)."

    "There are many foods which are as important as soft drinks in oral health and dental hygiene," Adamson said. "Fruit and fruit juices and cider and food such as pickles and salad dressing and wine—those are just as important in regards to general erosion as soft drinks. There is no single food or beverage that is responsible for dental erosion. There are numerous factors. The thing is to enjoy everything in moderation."

    Based on this I'm doomed- also - what is considered "moderation" ?

    I drink one large coffee in the morning, Monster or Rockstar (10 calories in lunch and evening) one Diet Coke during brunch.
    Perhaps I should start drinking water or just get those caffeine pills to get my caffeine lol.
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    oh wait- what about zero calorie powerade and vitamin water that is also zero calorie?
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    examine.com is a great tool for you to use to look up all your questions.
  • vallary14
    vallary14 Posts: 215 Member
    vm007 wrote: »
    Hello,

    As it states? Just to clarify- keeping calories in check -these diet soda, monster, red bull and all of these, do they have any harmful side effect on the body, teeth and what not?

    Any adverse effects whatsoever? I consume around 3 x 160 mg caffeine and then 2-3 diet soda -basically 40-50 calories worth of stuff in all of those combined.


    TIA[/
    You must be questioning this because deep down you know the answer.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Just because something doesn't make you healthier doesn't mean it makes you unhealthier. There's plenty of neutral stuff out there folks. Yummy, neutral stuff.

    OP, for my teeth's sake, I do try to swish with water after drinking soda or really any flavored drink. If I'm sipping a drink over a long period of time, I will occasionally swish with some water then as well. I'm not sure if it really helps, but it makes me feel proactive. I also use one of those mouthwashes that says it strengthens your enamel. Fingers crossed! I know I'll never have the pearliest whites because I'm rather fond of coffee, tea, and red wine anyway. :drinker:
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    lol I think I always look for definitive answer but answer always lies in moderation. However, the question was- if what I am doing/drinking- considered moderation or excessive?

    Also, I learned from the other thread regarding "natural" and "unnatural" so I will simply ignore those posts here.
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
    edited May 2018
    bpetrosky wrote: »
    mlogan53 wrote: »
    One of the main reason's for disease in people, is they don't eat whole, clean foods, for the most part. They eat a lot of processed foods in boxes, cartons, and packages, fast food, sugar, white flour and junk, and that will set a person up for diseases and illness. Those drinks you are talking about are nothing but chemicals, and most all of them are poison for our bodies. I am embracing the Holistic approach to bettering my whole being and I don't touch anything that has chemicals in it. One great thing I heard in a documentary is.....If it doesn't come from the sea (Seafood), come from animals that stand on the Earth (Beef, Pork, Poultry/Eggs/Dairy), come out of the ground or grow above ground (Vegetables, etc.), or grow on trees (Fruit/Nuts), it should not be consumed. Watch the documentaries "What The Health" and "The Magic Pill", to understand why I believe and encourage good nutrition. In the end, you have to do what makes you happy. Blessings to you.

    That is some highly concentrated, weapons grade woo. I think I got three Bingos.

    Everything is full of chemicals - our bodies are made of some pretty complex hydrocarbons as are 'natural' foods.
    Edit: Oops - should have read all of the comments - all has been said already - and better worded too.
  • asonrody
    asonrody Posts: 83 Member
    The only damage you really need to worry about from acidic drinks is the acidity eroding your enamel. I still drink diet sodas and energy drinks but if I can I'll drink a full bottle of water afterwards and make sure to swish the water around. You don't want to brush your teeth too soon after you have a drink since you'll just end up spreading the acidity around from what my dentist told me.
  • NGentRD
    NGentRD Posts: 181 Member
    I get headaches if I have too much aspartame. But that's me. You may not.

    Your teeth will be fine, assuming you brush and floss.

    I have a Monster Ultra Zero every afternoon.

    SAME! so good.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I avoid all energy/caffeine drinks and all sugar drinks including juices.

    Nothing wrong with water, sparkling water, soda water, or diet sodas.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,342 Member
    I think there is some 'bad for you' for some people.

    Regular soda not good for diabetics,( unless having a hypo) aspartame does give some people migraines, some people are sensitive to caffeine, people with PKU disease must avoid it ( along with many other foods, very restrictive diet) dental issues are a genuine point , some evidence that carbonated drinks can worsen osteoporosis.

    So, depending if any of above apply to you and whether you can mitigate any relevant risks - eg by cleaning your teeth or swapping to non caffeine versions - then you can avoid or reduce or modify your intake if you want to.

    Context and dosage applies, as usual.
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    Question now stands is -how much worse are these energy drinks vs fruits that have acid in them?

    I literally drink them for caffeine -if there wasn't any I won't be drinking them and I don't drink regular sodas -I only drink zero calorie content because I don't need to worry about gaining weight.

    There is also vitamin water that I consume over regular water lol.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    mlogan53 wrote: »
    I am embracing the Holistic approach to bettering my whole being and I don't touch anything that has chemicals in it...
    So basically you don't eat or drink anything. That seems really unwise on quite a number of levels.
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    examine.com is a great tool for you to use to look up all your questions.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    Examine literally had an article similar to this

    https://examine.com/nutrition/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you/


    Thanks again
  • JaxxieKat
    JaxxieKat Posts: 427 Member
    It always amuses me when people say things like they never touch chemicals, yet they're using electronic devices that are mostly made of some type of plastic. It's like those people whose blog I used to follow. They lived in a yurt and only ate raw, vegan, organic foods and their kids were only allowed to play with wooden toys. Yet they had internet, cell phones, laptops, and more than once I spotted plastic Walmart bags in their photos.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    JaxxieKat wrote: »
    It always amuses me when people say things like they never touch chemicals, yet they're using electronic devices that are mostly made of some type of plastic. It's like those people whose blog I used to follow. They lived in a yurt and only ate raw, vegan, organic foods and their kids were only allowed to play with wooden toys. Yet they had internet, cell phones, laptops, and more than once I spotted plastic Walmart bags in their photos.

    Ain’t hypocrisy grand?
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