With the summer just around the corner…and with people in the mood for all kinds of ‘fun in the sun.’ Picnics and things like them are certainly the order of the day.
Picnics usually mean loading down on all kinds of junk food. From the greasy, to the salty to the sweetened whatever – this is the time of year where we loaded in all down, because we are outdoors having fun. Top of the ‘got to have’ junk list is often Coca Cola.
Even though it may not be a popular thing to do, I would like to give you a rundown of the Coke ‘clock.’ This is a clock that the Nutrition Research Center came up with last October. It tells you what happens to your body right after you take that first slug of Coke. Be ready to sit down for this one.
Within the first ten minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. This is 100 percent of your recommended daily intake of sugar. (Knowing how our government determines these things, you should probably cut even that figure by 80+%). Swallowing that much sugar could very likely make one want to upchuck and the only reason you don’t is because of the phosphoric acid in the Coke, which cuts the flavor.
Within 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes and your Liver responds to the spike with Insulin. This in turn changes those 10 teaspoons of sugar into pure fat.
Within 40 minutes: The caffeine in the Coke is now complete absorbed. Because of it, your pupils dilate (get bigger), your blood pressure rises and your Liver dumps more sugar into your already overloaded bloodstream. By the way, all of these things are signs of stress. This by itself is not a healthy thing.
Around 45 minutes: Your body increases dopamine production, which stimulate the pleasure centers in your brain. This response is much like the high heroin addicts get. For it’s part, your body doesn’t know the difference.
At the 60 minute mark: You will begin your ‘sugar crash.’ You are sleepy, tired, and maybe even irritable and grumpy. Your body is unhappy with you and is telling you.
Now those are just the ‘highlights’ of the Coke crash. Here is the rest of the story.
In every can/bottle of Coke there is something called Phosphoric Acid. This sucks minerals out of your body and interferes with digestion. Let’s face it, ramming down those hot dogs is hard enough on your stomach, you don’t need to have the Coke (or any soda pop for that matter) screw up your stomach ability to digest properly.
Then there is the sugar. I don’t care if you drink ‘sugar free’ or ‘diet’ or whatever phony tag they put in the pop. Keep in mind, if it tastes sweet, its sugar. The only question is what did they do to in the laboratory to make you think it different. And whatever they did, only makes it worse than plain sugar. Oh by the way, remember that sugar raises your Insulin levels through the roof, so to speak. And if there is one hormone that makes you older than any other, it’s Insulin. Basically, sugar changes your blood’s chemistry so that it turns to sludge. That can’t be good.
In many sodas there is also Caffeine. Let’s just rundown the small list of problems with it. Jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, high cholesterol, vitamin and mineral depletion, maybe even some forms of Cancer.
Those are just the highlights or low lights, if you will to drinking any kind of soda pop. Juice drinks are a little better but that is only because they don’t contain caffeine or phosphoric acid (the stuff that cleans pennies in Coke). Basically, fruit juices – unless they are directly squeezed from real fruit by you yourself – are loaded with sugar. And because they are pasteurized (they have to by law) then anything even resembling healthy food has been killed.
What I am saying here is: enjoy your outdoor summer fun. And to make sure you really get the most of it, watch what you, your family and friends pour into the old ‘pie hole.’
Lots of fresh fruits hit the ‘sweet spot.’ Fresh veggies prepared in clever ways are great munchies. If you want or need flavored water, take some lemons, limes or oranges and squeeze their fresh juice into water. They make the water taste great, sweet and refreshing! I know you will do some of the junk food favorites, just moderate them and you will have a safe, happy and healthy summer time.
God bless and be well,
Dr. Steve
P.S. CHECK OUT MY PODCAST: http://web.mac.com/drsteve720/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html