London - From a sugar high that sends your liver into overdrive to a crash that leaves you feeling sluggish and irritable – the effects of a single can of Coca-Cola have been revealed by health experts.
They summarised its effects on the body over just 60 minutes.
Niraj Naik, a former community pharmacist, carried out research after his patients showed a “dramatic” improvement when they gave up fizzy drinks. Drawing on the work of other experts, Naik, who has a master’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Wales, Cardiff, detailed how the first sugar spike occurs 20 minutes after drinking the can and the “high” builds to a peak after 45 minutes.
It results in your liver turning the excess sugar into fats, which are secreted into your blood for storage in the body. The accompanying burst of caffeine stimulates your brain in a way the researchers compare to the effects of heroin.
But after just an hour, according to the article on the internet blog The Renegade Pharmacist, a sugar “crash” makes drinkers irritable.
The fizzy drink’s diuretic properties – promoting the production of urine – also lead to the body to flush out valuable nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and zinc and zinc. The effect is heightened by phosphoric acid, which is included in the drink to mask the “overwhelming sweetness” of its ten teaspoons of sugar.
Naik said he had “great success” at helping people get off long-term medication for problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes by advising them to replace fizzy drinks with water with fresh lemon or lime juice.
“In many cases just doing this would have a dramatic effect on their health,” he said.
Nutritionists advise against regular consumption of fizzy drinks, due to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart trouble. The sugar in one can of Coke is more than the 7.5 teaspoons per day maximum intake recommended by the NHS.
Coca-Cola was unavailable for comment but the company’s website recommends consumption as part of a “healthy, balanced diet” with regular exercise.
Daily Mail