How Does Coca Cola Affect Your Body?

1. The Coca Cola Roller Coaster

   • Coke and other similar flavored colas are popular in the United States and around the world. However, just because they have become a staple does not mean that they are healthy. Coke contains large amounts of sugar and caffeine, both of which cause specific reactions in the body. Coca Cola brand cola was originally produced with cocaine. Although the cocaine has long been removed from the bubbly beverage, it still gets people high. The combination of sugar, phosphorus and caffeine cause the body to embark on a roller coaster of ups and downs.

   Sugar High

   • One can of Coca Cola contain 27 carbohydrates. That translates into approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar. When you drink a Coca Cola, the first thing that happens is that the body begins to absorb all of that sugar. Within 20 minutes, the liver will begin to respond to this sugar rush by turning all sugars already in the body into fat to be used for energy at a later date. At this point blood sugar levels are elevated and the body is producing insulin in abundance.
     As the body begins to adjust to the sugar in Coca Cola, the caffeine begins to take affect. The caffeine absorption process begins within 15 minutes of ingestion. Coca Cola Classic contains 23 mg of caffeine. Although this is significantly less than is in the average cup of coffee, which contains approximately 80 mg, it does have an impact on the body. Caffeine causes blood pressure levels to rise and pupils to dilate. Because of elevated blood pressure levels, the body will automatically process more sugar into the liver, which turns that sugar into fat as well.

The Dope

• If drinking Coke wasn't pleasant, chances are it would not be one of the top-selling brands of soda. According to blisstree.com, the body also increases dopamine production within 45 minutes of ingestion, which triggers feelings of pleasure in the brain (see Resources). At this point the body is cruising from a sugar and caffeine rush, and feeling good due to increased dopamine. However, caffeine has diuretic properties, and approximately an hour after ingestion the body increases urination. Phosphorous, used to cut the sweet flavor of coke, binds itself with calcium, magnesium and zinc, all of which are used for healthy bones, within the small intestines. As the diuretic properties of coke begin to take affect, the body will eliminate all of the phosphorous, and by proxy the calcium, magnesium and zinc. This is unfortunate, because if absorbed, those minerals would have been beneficial for the body. In addition, the diuretic properties cancel out the hydration associated with this beverage.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

• The final step in the Coca Cola roller coaster is the impending crash. The body will actually crash twice, once from sugar and then again from caffeine. About an hour after ingesting cola the body will come down off the sugar. This causes feelings of sluggishness and crankiness. Following this initial crash, the body will also begin to come down off of caffeine (within two hours), increasing the feelings of sluggishness and causing headaches in those sensitive to caffeine. In addition, the feelings may make you crave another coke.

Source:http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4927791_coca-cola-affect-body.html