Top 10 Types of Health-Damaging Drinks

Many people have the habit of consuming naturally fruit juices, homemade smoothies, and adding a considerable amount of refined sugar. This blending method enhances the flavor of the drinks but inadvertently 'strips away' all the natural minerals in fruits, completely eliminating the fiber content, turning these once-nutritious beverages into agents harmful to health. Studies also indicate that the age group from 13-17 consumes the most sugar-laden drinks. Among them, the most popular products are bottled tea (over 2,000 million liters), followed by carbonated drinks (over 1,000 million liters), sports drinks (nearly 600 million liters), energy drinks, and fruit drinks (nearly 360 million liters). Professor Untoro emphasizes that sweetened beverages are quick energy suppliers but very poor in nutrition. A 330 ml can of soda contains about 36g of free sugar.

Sugar-laden drinks may provide a refreshing and tasty sensation. However, consuming sugary beverages increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as: overweight, obesity, high blood pressure, osteoporosis... leading to severe cardiovascular complications. This is also a leading cause of death today. Refined sugar with added preservatives and additives can be detrimental to health, making you prone to overweight and obesity. Therefore, it is advisable to limit the consumption of sugary drinks to maintain good health.

Scientists point out that carbonated beverages are the culprit that accelerates aging. Those who have the habit of drinking 2 cans of carbonated drinks every day will cause abnormalities in DNA structure, making them age 5-6 years faster than those who only drink filtered water. Carbonated drinks make us always crave sugar and become addicted to them. This leads to the risk of obesity and associated cardiovascular issues.

According to nutrition experts, most carbonated soft drinks contain high levels of fructose. This is a factor that increases cholesterol levels, causing diabetes and heart disease. A study by the University of Miami (USA) found that people who have a daily habit of drinking carbonated drinks have a 61% risk of heart disease. Additives and preservatives in these drinks can lead to a significant risk of toxicity. Moreover, carbonated drinks contain many harmful substances that damage teeth, affect the stomach, cause osteoporosis, and joint pain. In addition, methylmadizole in carbonated drinks has been proven to be a factor that promotes the formation of cancer cells.

Canned fruit juice is widely available in supermarkets and grocery stores. You can easily find any flavor you want to enjoy. Moreover, it has a long shelf life and can be stored in the refrigerator for later use, making it convenient and economical. However, due to the processing, canned fruit juice cannot be as good as fresh fruit juice. Not to mention the high sugar content in canned juice. Therefore, regular consumption of canned fruit juice can lead to loss of appetite and weight gain.

However, manufacturers attract consumers to use their products by labeling them as 100% sourced from fresh fruits. In reality, through the closed industrial process, these beverages will contain synthetic flavors, preservatives, and chemically processed sugar, which are not good for health. Moreover, canned fruit juice lacks the preservation of natural fiber found in fresh fruits. This causes the body to lack fiber, leading to constipation and, over time, the development of inconvenient hemorrhoids.

Similar to energy drinks, coffee contains a significant amount of caffeine to maintain alertness of the brain. However, daily consumption of coffee can lead to addiction and risks of sleep deprivation, increased blood pressure, and disrupted circadian rhythm. It impairs the functioning of organs in the body, causing considerable damage to health. Excessive intake may even lead to cancer. Caffeine in coffee can induce insomnia, tension, and restlessness. Drinking too much coffee stimulates the production of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These chemicals increase heart rate, blood pressure, and stress. Consuming caffeine can raise blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.

On the other hand, many acids found in coffee beans can irritate the stomach and the lining of the small intestine. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can stimulate increased acid secretion in the stomach. Acid reflux and heartburn can be caused by coffee due to the way it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (these muscles close tightly after we eat to prevent food and stomach acid from flowing back up into the esophagus). Although overuse can be harmful, if you know how to take advantage of the benefits that coffee brings, it is not dangerous at all. Enjoy a cup of coffee every morning after meals to boost energy throughout the day; however, coffee should not replace water intake.

Widely consumed worldwide, energy drinks act as a crucial key to maintaining alertness for many individuals in their daily work. As these beverages contain caffeine, they contribute to keeping the mind awake and clear. This drink is favored and consumed daily by workers requiring high concentration, such as drivers and office professionals.

Regular consumption of energy drinks keeps you lively and alert, but it also comes with the downside of sleep deprivation, constant nerve activity causing stress, tension, or susceptibility to depression.

Moreover, you might find it challenging to function without this type of beverage as it resembles an addictive and harmful substance. Even pregnant women using this drink will harm their liver. Caffeine persists in the blood longer and at higher levels in children and adolescents compared to adults. This is why caffeine-containing drinks can cause behavioral issues and stress in children.

A popular beverage in Western countries, soda has recently gained popularity in Vietnam among the youth. Many people misuse soda without considering its nutritional content. Some use it as a substitute for water or other hydrating drinks, while others mix soda with alcohol to consume more alcohol. Some individuals believe soda helps alleviate fatigue after heavy physical labor.

Research indicates that normal soda consumption is harmless, but excessive intake can be detrimental to health. Soda contains acid, a highly corrosive substance that has the most harmful effect on teeth and the stomach lining. Therefore, when using this type of beverage, it is essential to consume it in moderation and avoid excessive usage.

The main culprits causing harm to human health in this beverage category are alcoholic drinks. The toxic substances in alcoholic drinks can lead to a series of unexpected problems. Excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks can cause fatty liver, impairing liver function. The diuretic properties of alcoholic drinks result in frequent urination, leading to dehydration. The skin becomes dry, ages faster, and various skin issues such as acne or itching may persist after consuming large quantities of alcoholic drinks. Alcohol also makes the central nervous system prone to paralysis and loss of control.

Turning to alcohol when feeling sad is a pitfall that everyone falls into, exacerbating sorrow and giving rise to anxiety, restlessness, and depression. The alcohol content in alcoholic drinks is detrimental to the heart muscle cells, causing cell death and fibrous tissue that cannot contract, leading to impaired blood circulation and the risk of ruptured blood vessels, ultimately resulting in death. Moreover, alcoholic drinks contribute to reproductive issues such as erectile dysfunction in males, female infertility, increased risk of kidney disease, elevated blood pressure, and numerous other complications.

Boiling water is a solution for the majority of people. The essence of boiling water is to use heat to completely eliminate microorganisms, parasites that pollute the water source. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh states: When boiling, bacteria and parasites are completely destroyed, some harmful gases in the water such as ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) will escape. However, the amount of oxygen dissolved in water is also lost.

Drinking water boiled for too long will lack oxygen in the water, hindering the development of microorganisms in the intestine. This oxygen is essential because people can only take in oxygen through the lungs, not the intestines. After boiling water for a long time, organic matter containing nitrogen will continue to decompose into nitrite. Especially, water left for too long is prone to bacterial contamination, and at this time, the rate of decomposition of organic matter containing nitrogen will be faster, and nitrite salt will form more. After drinking this water, nitrite salt will mix with hemoglobin, affecting the oxygen transport function of the blood.

Research by physiologists suggests that during sleep, the human body does not drink water; instead, it breathes and sweats, engaging in the urinary process, causing water loss. Upon waking up, the blood is in a concentrated state. If you drink a glass of filtered water, it quickly dilutes the blood, compensating for the lost water. However, drinking a glass of diluted saltwater increases water loss, making the mouth even drier. Furthermore, in the morning when blood pressure is already high, drinking saltwater will raise it further, harming your health.

Therefore, in the morning, you should drink a glass of filtered water to purify the body. Avoid using diluted saltwater, as it can be detrimental to your health. However, you can prepare diluted saltwater for mouthwash or foot soaking, which is also beneficial. But remember to mix it in the right proportion, neither too concentrated nor too diluted.

In reality, many people prefer to drink a glass of cold water in the morning, especially in the summer. However, this practice is highly contrary to nutritional science. Upon waking up, the body is still not operating normally. Cold water or ice water causes constriction of the blood vessels in the stomach lining, affecting and stimulating digestion, accelerating the peristalsis of the intestines, potentially causing mild stomachaches or indigestion. Drinking iced water with sweet beverages on an empty stomach can lead to stomachaches. Additionally, when ice water enters the throat, it can cause blood vessel constriction, sudden contraction, reduced lubrication, creating conditions for bacterial growth, leading to sore throat, hoarseness, susceptibility to colds and coughs, and even inflammation of the larynx and bronchi.

Moreover, drinking iced water affects the normal physiological functions of the reproductive system, especially in women during menstruation, potentially causing menstrual disorders and abdominal pain. Prolonged damage to the uterus can also lead to infertility. In men, drinking excessively cold water affects the development of sperm, leading to diseases such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and colds.