Surgeon Jeremy London warns against carbonated drinks and is not afraid to link them to liquid death. The doctor warned about drinks with bubbles on his Instagram profile. Aside from carbonated drinks, the doctor is also said to avoid smoking, alcohol and bread. This is all for the sake of heart health. With smoking and alcohol, it is not surprising. Bread and carbonated drinks, however, one wonders.

London, of course, puts smoking at the top of the blacklist. He says it’s the worst thing you can do to your body. Alcohol comes second. “I hate to say it, but it’s toxic,” the doctor said. He did not elaborate on bread and on carbonated drinks he only said: “Liquid death. Just don’t drink them. End of story.”

He later clarified that he wanted to stir up controversy and generate interest. He pointed out that carbonated drinks are a source of huge amounts of sugar and calories. Of course, he’s not the only doctor to warn about carbonated beverages.

What causes fizzy water

Of course, sparkling water is part of hydration, so if you drink carbonated water without taste and other additives, it can help with hydration. If you prefer flavored water, then you run the risk of harming your body with calories and sugars in addition to the benefits. How about using a slice of lemon in your unflavored water? My daughter loves it, she was taught it in kindergarten. I still offer her homemade lemonade with chunks of any fruit. Especially in the summer when fruit is plentiful everywhere.

After all, my daughter has a drinking problem and loves bubbly water. I just warn her that she shouldn’t drink too much of it. Sparkling water can bloat the belly and cause bloating. And several studies even suggest that sparkling water can lead to weight gain, even without artificial sweeteners. Plus, sparkling water can supposedly erode your teeth. Carbonated water can have a lower pH than still water, and this can erode enamel over time.

━━ ( Source: Jamie Street /  Unsplash+ )

What are fizzy drinks

They are drinks infused with carbon dioxide. The process creates bubbles that give the fizz. The key ingredients in fizzy drinks include water, carbon dioxide, but also acids, flavours, sugar or artificial sweeteners. It is important to note that the composition of carbonated beverages varies considerably. Some are full of sugar, while others contain artificial sweeteners. Some contain caffeine while others do not. This variety means that the health effects of these drinks can also vary.

Carbonation alone is unlikely to directly damage your heart, but it can cause bloating, discomfort and acid reflux. And these problems can affect your overall well-being. However, some drinks contain caffeine, and this already has a direct effect on blood pressure, but also arrhythmia. It can even cause stress. The aforementioned artificial sweeteners in drinks are also a complex problem.

Alternative drinks

  • Personally, I drink still water. Alternatively, I supplement it with lemon, lemon balm or mint.
  • My daughter loves cold tea as an alternative. I just brew the tea and let it cool. Herbal or fruit.
  • Smoothie. Blend fruit at home and add water or milk.