Trust in what Mother Nature provides
Q
I have been told that drinking sugar-free carbonated drinks is a waste of time and will make me gain weight. Is that correct? If so, what do you suggest I drink?
A
I suggest you look at the name of this column, head on over, and give it a go. Mind you, if you live anywhere near the western half of the City of Johannesburg, you have probably found that everyone was out of stock of the most fundamental ingredient for life.
When the taps run dry — that could be the name for a doomsday thriller, and that farfetched eventuality is becoming all the more believable. Especially when we read that there is a solution: another power line to the Eikenhof pumping station. It’s just that the water pipe is in the way and needs to be removed to make way for the backup power line. Fantastic — at least we can turn on the taps for power during load-shedding.
Your question is strange, because everyone knows we should drink water. And here’s a disclaimer: yes, I do have a water cooler at home with fancy, pure water bought from a water shop, but I also drink the tap water.
I believe (call me naive?) the assertions that the water in Johannesburg is safe, and so — during the night or when I want a quick sip — I drink the stuff that comes out the tap.
Sometimes, not always, you need to let the water settle and become clear — the milky colour that emerges definitely freaks my children out. But this old hack is battle-hardened, having breathed mine dump toxins — and worse — growing up on the East Rand. I was taught: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
There are mixed views about diet or no-calorie carbonated drinks. There are studies with terrifying conclusions and then others that are neither here nor there. Most, if not all, are observational and so the truth is that we just can’t demonstrate a causal relationship between carbonated diet drinks and the myriad issues they’re associated with. Harvard Health says there’s just not enough concrete science to prove they cause obesity, cancer or kidney problems, while a review of literature in Healthline says there’s not enough proof they cause cardiovascular problems or depression.
One study in rats suggested that some artificial sweeteners damage a part of the brain that tells rodents when to stop eating. Some studies in humans found that consuming nocalorie carbonated drinks resulted in weight gain, while another showed that they are useful to aid weight loss.
Reverse causation is a concern, and something too few people consider. It could well be that people who are at risk for obesity choose to consume these beverages because they’re associated with dieting, and this is then observed in studies.
Picture this scene at McDonald’s: “Hi, can I have a BigMac, no wait, a McFeast Spicy, a large chips, an Oreo McFlurry … and a diet Coke please.”
A series of studies that interest the Water Cooler, probably because I have a weakness for sparkling water, suggests that carbonated drinks possibly interact with sensitive stomach cells, causing a rise in ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is the hunger hormone. What happens when you are hungry? You eat.
There’s still a great deal of research that needs to happen for us all to be sure about anything. If you are determined to drink carbonated beverages, any rational person would surely agree that switching to a zero-calorie drink would be better. However, as with all things, be mindful. Appreciate that there may be health risks that come with consuming artificial sweeteners, just like we (should) all appreciate the health risks of a high-sugar diet.
If you do drink a no-sugar carbonated drink, be conscious about the rest of your diet. Become aware of how you feel and if you’re hungrier than normal. Simply drinking a Pepsi Max won’t make you lose weight; it’s irrational.
Some people advocate for fruit-infused water, while others prefer unsweetened tea. If you are adamant that you need flavour, try water infusion drops. When all else fails, trust Mother Nature and just drink more water.
THERE ARE STUDIES WITH TERRIFYING CONCLUSIONS AND THEN OTHERS THAT ARE NEITHER HERE NOR THERE