Dear Patient and Friend,
When you are thirsty, your brain and body are calling for more water – but too often, we drink beverages that may seem to quench our thirst temporarily but actually are potentially harmful. So let’s look at what happens in your brain when you drink soda pop.
Besides promoting tooth decay and obesity, drinking too much sugary soda decreases your thinking and memory functions. So some people opt for diet soda, thinking it less unhealthy.
But in fact, a 2017 study showed that drinking diet soda increased the risk of stroke and dementia. Regular diet soda abusers tripled their probability of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. And those who drank regular sugary soda increased the risk of stroke by 21%, according to a 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Drinking soda also tends to interrupt normal sleep patterns due to the caffeine and sugar content. It has also been shown to create memory problems, which linger from adolescent soda abuse and last into adulthood.
Nutritionists link soda to caffeine dependence, in which a person exhibits symptoms of being sluggish, irritable, or lacking focus and concentration. Ongoing caffeine consumption from soda can lead to chemical changes in the brain that make you and your brain crave more. This means that you may feel like you need more soda to feel the stimulating effects of caffeine.
While occasional soda drinking is usually okay, drinking it every day leads to health issues, so be sensible, and you’ll be taking better care of your brain.
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For Your Health,
Dr. Wendy Lanser D.C.