Don’t you just love the refreshing taste of a Fanta, Sprite, Coca Cola or Appletiser when you’re at a restaurant, summer party or on holiday? They make the weather bearable. They make you feel better. They quench your thirst. We’d agree that a sugary drink every now and then is ok, but when it becomes your go-to drink, it can cause future health issues that can be both serious and irreversible. Nobody loves that. So how could increased sugar intake effect your health? We take a look and suggest some healthier options.
How Much Sugar Is In….?
Appletizer: 31.7g.
Sprite: 33.7g.
Coca Cola: 35g.
Iron Brew: 37g.
Powerade: 38.8g.
Fanta Pine: 40.6g.
Fanta Orange: 41g.
Schweppes Dry Lemon: 42.3g.
Fanta Grape: 44.1g.
To put that into perspective, the NHS states that:
Adults and children aged 11+ should consume no more than 30g of sugar a day.
Children aged 7-10 should consume no more than 24g.
Children aged 4-6 should stop at 19g.
Sugar’s Effect On Health
Sugary drinks can lead to insulin resistance, a major cause of Type 2 diabetes.
Many studies have found strong links with heart disease. For example, de Koning et al. (2012) found men who drank one sugary drink a day had a 20% greater risk of having, or dying from, a heart attack than those who seldom drank them.
Pancreatic, endometrial and colorectal cancer have all been linked with sugary drinks.
Research, including Moreira (2013) suggests high blood sugar increases the risk of dementia.
For people with addictive personalities, sugary drinks can impact the brain’s reward system, giving them feelings of pleasure that they wish to maintain.
Fortunately, there are healthier options. Low fat milk, sugar-free drinks and water are all great choices, as well as tea and coffee. As the NHS states:
‘’Water is a healthy and cheap choice for quenching your thirst at any time. It has no calories and contains no sugars that can damage teeth.’’
How Can You Help Your Staff and Patients?
Removing your fizzy drinks machines may seem extreme, but providing a greater range of healthier drinks will benefit everyone in the long run. We offer a great selection of hygienic water coolers, water boilers, milk fridges and coffee machines that offer specialities, ease of use and capacities sure to suit your facility’s size and requirements.
With taste, functionally and eco-friendliness at the core of all of our products, why not check out our range by visiting our website, or calling us on 0161 482 4591 today.