Do you know that most sweetened beverages contain large amounts of sugar? Yes, you read it right! You might not know, but sugary drinks have been linked to various health problems, including obesity, bone fractures, osteoporosis, kidney issues, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more. Multiple studies reveal that heavy sugar-sweetened drinks, including soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and sugar-sweetened water, can significantly negatively impact your overall health. This is why today, an increasing number of people prefer sugar free drinks either because they are on a diet, careful about gaining weight or have a medical condition like diabetes.
A bounty of delectable sugar-free sweet treats is now available for those limiting their sugar intake. Thanks to all the advances in technology within the food and beverage industry, today, you have such great-tasting alternatives when you want all the energy but none of the sugar. So there are popular sugar-free energy drinks with close to zero calories, are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, and taste great! And if there isn’t any sugar in the drinks and a minimal amount of actual caffeine, you may be wondering where the energy comes from. So continue reading; this article discusses everything you might need to know about sugar-free beverages.
What Does Sugar-Free Mean?
Sugar-free beverages sound like a gift to people wanting to control their weight gain and people living with diabetes. But one common question that often swirls in everybody’s mind is that if these drinks do not contain sugar, how do they taste so good?
Sweeteners are classified into two: Nutritive sweeteners (provide kilojoules/ calories) and Non-nutritive sweeteners ( provide no kilojoules/calories). Sugar-free beverages or foods contain an alternative form of sugar called Non-nutritive sweeteners like sucralose. These are further classified into artificial sweeteners and natural non-caloric sweeteners.
While artificial sweeteners are produced artificially in a lab, they have zero glycemic indexes and are harmless to teeth. On the other hand, natural non-caloric sweeteners do not contain carbohydrates and calories, and they also have zero glycemic indexes. So most manufacturers use these sweeteners as they could help lower a person’s overall calorie intake and hence aid in weight loss. Moreover, they have less sugar content which means they cause less or no rise in blood glucose levels. This is why sugar-free beverages are considered highly beneficial for people needing to control their blood glucose levels.
Are These Drinks Safe?
It is a well-known fact that eating a healthy and well-balanced diet is essential not only for a healthy body but also for a healthy mouth. It is necessary to keep in check what you consume, how much you consume and how often you consume to maintain good oral health and prevent cavities. Meanwhile, bacteria in your mouth start working as soon as you eat or drink something, and they convert the sugar and carbohydrates from the food and drinks you consume to acids which in turn attack your teeth’s enamel, and the tooth decaying process begins. That means the more sugary drinks and food you eat, the more you expose your teeth to the decay cycle. So to avoid this, all you need to do is choose foods and beverages that provide you with adequate nutrients and energy and no sugar.
Sugar-laden drinks add unnecessary calories to your diet, leading to an increased risk of obesity and type-2 diabetes. In contrast, sugar free drinks eliminate these empty calories, allowing you to enjoy sweet tastes without the added calorie intake. And nonetheless, you should prefer sugar-free beverages instead of sugary ones to ensure your family’s oral and bodily well-being.
Author Name :- Mary
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