Coca-Cola enthusiasts, brace yourselves for a startling revelation about your favorite fizzy drink. A pharmacist has made a startling claim that the dopamine rush from a can of Coke is comparable to that of heroin.
But that's not all - the instant gratification your brain receives from that first sugary sip should theoretically lead to immediate vomiting due to the excessive sugar content. However, according to health expert Niraj Naik, certain ingredients in the drink prevent this reaction. He explains the impact Coca-Cola has on our bodies with every swig we take.
"The intense sweetness of Coca-Cola resulting from its high sugar content should make a person vomit as soon as it enters the body," he told Medical News Today. "However, the phosphoric acid in the beverage dulls the sweetness, enabling people to keep the drink down."
Within just 10 minutes, your teeth are under attack. "The phosphoric acid attacks the enamel in your teeth, while the artificial sweeteners like aspartame hit your system. Aspartame may trigger taste receptors and trick your body into thinking it has just processed sugar."
Due to the massive surge in blood sugar from non-diet versions, after 20 minutes, it triggers an insulin spike, forcing the liver to convert the "high amount of sugar into fat". After 40 minutes, all the caffeine from the Coke has been absorbed by the body, leading to dilated pupils and increased blood pressure.
Naik's breakdown of the effects of Coca-Cola on the body is a sobering reminder of the potential health impacts of consuming the sugary drink. At this stage in the game, your beverage has also "blocked the adenosine receptors" in your brain, keeping you alert. Soon after, you’re cruising on a dopamine high.
"Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the pleasure and reward centers of the brain," elaborates Medical News Today, spilling the tea that: "The way that Coca-Cola stimulates these centers is comparable to the effects of heroin. It triggers a person's urge to drink another can."
This surge of dopamine gets folks hankering for more, yet when the clock hits the one-hour mark, the sugar slump sneaks up, ushering in "irritability and drowsiness" as the body kicks out the cola’s water and vital nutrients.
Niraj chimes in with a cautionary note: "Coke is not just high in high fructose corn syrup, but it is also packed with refined salts and caffeine."
Coca-Cola has acknowledged concerns, admitting that while its fizzy drink comes loaded with sugar and a jolt of caffeine, it is "fine in moderation", but overdoing it "isn't good for anyone." The company statement lays it down: "Like all food and beverages, soft drinks with sugar can be consumed as part of a balanced lifestyle as long as people don't consume them to excess."
The company also highlighted its variety of lower-sugar options, stating: "That's also why many of our beverages come in small pack sizes. We also provide information on how much sugar and how many calories are in our beverages, so people can choose what makes sense for them and their families."
This development coincides with a recent recall of over 10,000 Coca-Cola cans due to concerns about a potential "foreign object" inside the cans.
On March 6, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC initiated a recall of 12-packs of 12oz Coca-Cola Original Taste after discovering plastic inside, prompting the US Food and Drug Administration to issue a Class II recall.
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