Is soda addiction a thing?

Sugar is known to have an addictive effect on the brain.

Scientists have proposed that sweet foods and sugary drinks and beverages produce addiction-like effects in the human brain that drive the loss of self-control, or eating and subsequent weight gain.

Mexicans are currently the biggest consumers of sugary drinks in the world.

Soda, being the lead that drives obesity and diabetes in that country.

According to the health line, Soda is a drink made with potentially habit-forming ingredients like caffeine and sugar, making it quite enjoyable and can lead to cravings.

Recently, in a Facebook post, John* not his real name, posted a picture of his fridge which was filled with close to 12 sodas brands from a well know company in Kenya.

“My addiction to soda is worrying and am afraid I don’t know how I can stop it,” John said.

He reached out, stating he knew it was bad for his health but it had started with the small 300ml bottle.

John now, can’t break the addiction to the extent he consumes four litres in a day.

According to Dr Wincate Wangari, a nutritionist and dietician having soft drinks put one at risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

“Drinking diet soda as well also comes with risks too, the key is finding another beverage that you enjoy- you could replace that with milk, which provides important nutrients such as protein and calcium,” she said.

“Soda contains huge amounts of sugar. This sugar not only makes you addicted but it has also been linked to memory loss, insomnia and stunted brain development.”

Wangari says many Kenyans are slowly getting addicted to the beverage and the sorry situation is, most mothers and guardians introduce their little ones to the drink at such a tender age.

“Parents who give their child soda, should not complain of making those too many trips to the dentist. Exposing your child to the fizzy drinks will cause their enamel to erode due to their high acidity and in some cases, dental carries,” she said.

“Instead, give them milk, which has calcium that will help them develop growing teeth and bones!”

Wangari also said that soda contains empty calories which can directly lead to weight gain, obesity and heart disease.

“The added sugars are often referred to as empty calories because they have high calories yet lack nutrients like vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre, which your body needs to function optimally,” she said.

Wangari said constant exposure to high amounts of sugar could lead your body to be insulin resistant which causes high blood pressure.

“Your body is getting these “empty calories “thinking it is sugar, and insulin, a hormone that is located in your pancreases, moves sugar from your blood into cells, where it can be used for energy. However, cells sometimes stop responding to insulin correctly. This is called insulin resistance.” She said.

Wangari says that it makes the pancreases produce more insulin to lower the blood sugar and with time, the blood sugar rises as well as insulin which eventually leads to the damaged pancreas and decreased insulin production that can lead to type 2 diabetes.

“When you start gaining weight, caused by the increased empty calories, some of the fat goes to your belly. Some of the visceral fat also start accumulating around your organs and may release many free fatty acids into your blood, as well as inflammatory hormones that drive insulin resistance,” she said.

Wangari warned people to be cautious before drinking sodas as the added sugars can increase your risk of chronic conditions.

“Interfering with your hormones, increasing hunger, causing sugar addiction and making you displace and despise healthy foods, these are just but a few ways that added sugars can turn your life upside down, so as you are drinking it, keep that in mind.”

Edited by D Tarus