Why drinking cola with meals is a bad idea?

Here are 3 reasons why you should not sip colas with your meal.

Are you in the habit of sipping coke with your meals? Think twice before indulging in it again as the soft drinks can not only increase your calorie intake but also lead to other lifestyle problems. Well-known nutritionist Priya Kathpal tells you why drinking soft drinks with meals is not a good idea.

Increases your sugar intake

You may enjoy the taste of soft drink but what you often forget is that most of your meals contain a mix of nutrients with carbohydrates being the base of it. Since you are already consuming some form of sugar, having soft drinks along with food could lead to a sugar overload at that point of time during the day. It also increases the glycemic index of the meal that can cause spikes in your blood sugar levels and lead to diabetes.

Affects your bone health

Most of the soft drinks are very high in phosphorous, and too much of this mineral can reduce the amount of calcium that your body absorbs. So even if your meals are rich in calcium, the sodas and soft drinks may have a deleterious effect on your bone health.

Dehydrates your body

Drinking these beverages along with meals reduces the chances of drinking a healthy beverage or even plain water. You thereby miss on the hydrating electrolytes and essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Also, soft drinks are high in caffeine that can lead to dehydration, so your body is in a state of non-balanced electrolytes.

Now that you have read the cons, would you still have soft drinks with your meals or would you give it a miss?

You may also like to read

• How many calories do soft drinks or colas have?
• Drinking tea with or after meals-- good or bad?

Image source: Getty Images

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