Soft drinks, not so soft!
Recently, researchers found that drinking two or more soft drinks a week doubles the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. It has been reported in the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research -- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention" that the high levels of sugar in soda increases insulin levels which may encourage the growth of cancer cells. Associate Professor Dr. Mark Pereira of the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of the above mentioned study said -- "People who drink soft drinks on a regular basis tend to have poor behaviour patterns overall, but the effects of soft drinks on pancreatic cancer may be unique".
Well, the above findings are indeed useful but it requires further study too. As we know, a soft drink does not contain alcohol (as it is in hard drinks) but contains soda and is mostly carbonated. Of course fruit juice, cold tea, milk-shakes, etc. also falls within the soft drink category. But these are not harmful.
Soft drinks among other ingredients contain sodium bicarbonate plus pressurized carbon dioxide gas (carbonated water or soda water). Sodium Bicarbonate has a medicinal value, which has been in use since ancient times. Sodium bicarbonate or bicarb serves to neutralize the acidity of the hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach. Not only it helps in reducing stomach acid (HCL) but also eases flatulence. In fact, sweetened carbonated water actually does the harm but simple soda in carbonated water helps in containing hyperacidity. So it may be concluded that the soft drink manufacturers should go for producing sugar-free soda water as one of the soft drinks. There are some natural fountains in the world, which directly gives carbonated water; one is there in Turkey.
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