What Are These 6 Popular Drinks Doing to Your Body?

Decode your drinks! The keys things you need to know about Sports Drinks, Coconut Water, Coffee, Juice and Coca Cola...

Sports Drinks

PROS: They’re effective for super fitties who are intensely working out (at least a couple of hours at a time and a couple of times a day) and sweating a LOT because heck, these guys really NEED to replace those fluids and carbs quick-smart. And it should be noted that anyone using sports drinks in this way is also likely making sure they are sipping on these drinks only in addition to a very balanced sports nutrition plan.

CONS: It’s pretty inappropriate for casual exercisers to use sports drinks in the same way as competitive athletes do. Why? Because to get the best fitness and health benefits from your workouts, you’ll want to avoid all sugars and fake sugars (one or both of which is guaranteed to be in your sports drink) both pre and post-workout. This is because the ingredients in sugary sports drinks, more often than not will sabotage your workout by halting the production of the fat-burning hormones you’ve just worked so hard to boost – and if there’s even a hint of fructose hiding in there, the drink will also turn off your body’s appetite-control system, which is a disaster after a metabolism-stirring exercise session. Hmm… no thanks!

Coconut Water

PROS: Coconut water has a natural balance of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, making it a great natural alternative to sports drinks. It’s a good post-exercise hydrator, can be great for a hangover thanks to all the natural electrolytes and doesn’t have all the fake nasties and colours some sports drinks can contain. Some recent studies suggest coconuts have huge health benefits, particularly for weight loss and brain function. Awesome!

CONS: Although it’s a healthy, natural drink that will satisfy you a lot more effectively than the ‘man made’ stuff, at the end of the day, coconut water can still be kinda sugary, so don’t go replacing your regular water with dozens of coconuts! And if you’re not lazing around in Thailand with copious fresh young coconuts at your disposal and are going with the packaged version, choose one that’s super low in sugar, like CHI Coconut Water, which has about four times less sugar than any other packaged coco water on the market. Our fave! 

Coffee

PROS: Some people are born being able to handle coffee (we call them “fast caffeine metabolisers” and they usually feel just a little energy boost post-coffee) and others should never touch the stuff (the “slow caffeine metabolisers”, who will usually feel jittery for hours after their coffee and often a little unsettled in the stomach). If you’re in the “fast” group, there are a few benefits to your daily brew, such as: a boost of alertness if you drink your coffee just before tackling an important task, or a boost in athletic performance and metabolism if taken 15-30 minutes before a workout. Even if you’re in this coffee-lovin’ group though, make sure you don’t partake after about 10am, as this will likely disturb your body’s natural hormonal rhythms for the rest of the day, which has a knock-on effect. 

CONS: If you’re in the “slow” group (which is actually most people), you’ll feel jittery and on edge after sipping on your favourite brew and are more likely to feel stressed-out throughout the day and store excess fat on your stomach. If you’re in this group, coffee may be hindering your weight loss efforts and increasing dehydration, while affecting your sleep patterns. Abstain completely if possible, or switch to teas and herbal teas, which also have a range of other health benefits.

Juice

PROS: A lovely, fresh green juice with added lemon is a great way to cleanse your system first thing in the morning and get your metabolism kicking… and veggie juices are a fabulous way to pack in extra nutrients, for glowing skin and an immunity boost!

CONS: Notice we didn’t mention fruit juices in the ‘pros’ part?! Although an itty-bitty bit of fruit juice to add sweetness to your veggie-packed drink won’t do you any harm, juicing fruit is typically a sure-fire way to quickly increase your consumption of fructose, while leaving behind all the fibre that helps to decrease the rate at which all that sugar is absorbed into your system, meaning decreased insulin sensitivity and inevitable an increase in fat storage and hormonal issues. A freshly made glass of apple juice can contain more sugar than a glass of coke, so you’re better off eating your fruit whole or blend rather than 'juice'!

Water

PROS: Erm… everything from hydration, to clear skin, to boosting your mental and athletic performance, to helping you stay, well, alive. Drink it!

CONS: Although water is truly the world’s best health drink, it pays to be aware of the source you get it from. If you’re always sipping your H2O from plastic containers, for example, you’re at risk of over-exposure to BPAs, otherwise knows as ‘plastic nasties’, which can mess with your bod in a whole host of ways. Likewise, some people are sensitive to the chemicals used to treat tap water. So if it’s an option for you, buy a good stainless steel or BPA-free water bottle and drink filtered water where you can. There are also a couple of brands now making water bottles with their own built-in filter! We love Fill2Pure, or Water Bobble.

Coke

PROS: Thinking… thinking…

CONS: Read the below report on what happens to your body within an hour of drinking Coke, then tell me if you can think of any pros! Didn’t think so… oh and by the way, the sugar-free version is even worse than this! Read on:

Within an hour of drinking Coke...

In The First 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system (100% of your recommended daily intake!). You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor, allowing you to keep it down.

20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat (there’s plenty of that at this particular moment). Your body can only cope with 2 teaspoons of sugar at any one time (you’ve just slurped down 10 teaspoons)

40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. But hey, at least you’re feeling more awake (very temporarily)

45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production, stimulating the pleasure centres of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.

>60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine (meaning the coke is basically leaching these very important things from your system. Hellllooo brittle bones, bad skin and fat)

>60 Minutes: The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play (it makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.

>60 minutes: As the rave inside of you dies down, you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You’re craving more sugar and carbs, as your body needs to be ‘picked back up’.

So there you have it, an avalanche of destruction in a single can. Imagine drinking this day after day… week after week!

Original Source: Wade Meredith