These days the consumption of carbonated beverages (such as soft drinks and energy drinks in a can) is quite disconcerting when you consider that these beverages are actually toxic to the human body! Many otherwise healthy eaters consume diet sodas, sparkling water, and canned energy drinks thinking they are complementary to a clean diet, simply because they are low in calories. But carbonated drinks contain some very toxic compounds such as carbonation, artificial sweeteners, food dyes and phosphoric acid. The next time you reach for that diet soda or a canned energy drink consider that you are actually consuming the following along with it:

Carbonation
Carbonation is created by pumping carbon dioxide into water or other liquid. Carbon dioxide is a waste product of cellular and food metabolism, and as such the body wants to expel it. So you are in effect further adding a waste product to your body! Carbonated beverages also burden the body by weakening stomach acid, thereby interfering with proper digestion. It neutralizes digestive enzymes – these enzymes are responsible for over 300 complex reactions in the body. Nutritional absorption is seriously compromised by a lack of these enzymes. In addition, minerals are better absorbed in a strong acidic base. Nitrates are also in most carbonated drinks, and they not only inhibit the absorption of nutrients, they cause calcium to be leached from the bones. Since adding bicarbonate to the blood stream upsets the body’s chemical balance, it is logical to assume that the common claim of carbonation effecting performance during athletics has some relevance. Athletes are often advised to refrain from drinking carbonated beverages when attempting to achieve optimal performance.

Artificial Sweeteners
Unfortunately, even though diet sodas have less sugar than regular soda and this goes for sugar free energy drinks as well, they contain another concern, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Aspartame is a low calorie artificial sweetener that has the effect of lowering your body’s metabolism. Aspartame has also been linked to convulsions, depression, insomnia, irritability, weakness, dizziness, migraines, and mood changes.

Food Dyes (Artificial Coloring)
Many carbonated beverages contain food dyes that are unfit for human consumption. Many of these colorings have been connected to ailments such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). They are unnatural, difficult to digest and process, and have even been linked to certain cancers.

Phosphoric Acid
This is the substance that causes the soft drink to bubble and fizz. Being an acid, phosphoric acid “burns” your intestines but more importantly upsets your body’s delicate phosphorus-calcium balance. Calcium can be released from the bones to restore proper pH balance in the blood. As a result, the presence of phosphoric acid can lead to the weakening of the skeletal structure and hence osteoporosis. In 1994, The Journal of Adolescent Health, reported a “strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in girls.” Numerous studies have confirmed this result. So the next time you reach for the soft drink, sparkling water or canned energy drink, we encourage you to think twice. Think about what this fizzy acidic liquid will be doing to your internal environment. Also remember the side effects you can feel when you consume too many carbonated drinks: one that bloated uncomfortable feeling and two the water retention that messes with that nice physique you are working so hard to improve. If you have the choice, go with purified water that will replenish and revitalize your body!

These are the main health reasons why we developed OCTANE, The Healthy All-In-One Energy and Sports Drink Mix in a powder form so its not carbonated and it does not contain artificial flavoring, artificial coloring or phosphoric acid.. We at ProSport Nutrition care about our health and your health.