Added sugar is bad because it has been associated with weight gain, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. It is also not good for the teeth as it can trigger the proliferation of cavities. Additionally, it can lead to oral health problems like gum disease and tooth loss.
However, a glass of ice-cold soft drink is very tempting to beat the summer heat. Likewise, a bottle of sports drink looks necessary to replenish depleted energy after a run. And it is no secret that soft drinks and sports drinks contain sugar that can be harmful to the body. This especially true when too much is consumed.
The World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend women intake 20 grams of sugar, men intake 36 grams of sugar, and children intake 12 grams of sugar.
So, are you consuming over the recommended sugar intake as you gulp down a bottle of Coke? Find out how much sugar is buried in every bottle or can of your favorite soft drink, sports drink, or juice.
Coca-Cola Original Taste
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 39 grams of sugar
Coca-Cola or simply Coke was the leading soft drink brand worldwide in 2017 with its brand value amounting to over 66.48 billion US dollars.
As a product of The Coca-Cola Company, the carbonated soft drink was invented by John Pemberton as a patent medicine in the 19th century. It was successfully marketed by Asa Griggs Candler who was the founder of The Coca-Cola Company in the 20th century.
Fanta Orange
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 44 grams of sugar
A fruit-y, carbonated beverage by The Coca-Cola Company, Fanta, ranked seventh in terms of brand value among soft drink brands worldwide. It is the third soft drink brand by The Coca-Cola Company with the highest brand value.
The product was created by then-Coca-Cola Deutschland head Max Keith to circumvent the trade embargo imposed in Germany during the Second World War. The formula included available ingredients in Germany such as whey and apple pomace. One of the plant’s salesmen Joe Knipp is credited with the name “Fanta” after he retorted the word during a brief brainstorming session.
Sprite Original
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 38 grams of sugar
Sprite, which was developed in 1959 as a variant of Fanta, was created by The Coca-Cola Company and introduced in the United States as a competitor of 7 Up in 1961. In 2017, the beverage brand was tenth among beverages in terms of brand value.
Powerade Mountain Berry Blast
Sugar level: 20 US fluid ounces of the drink has 34 grams of sugar
First coming about in 1990, Powerade is manufactured and marketed by The Coca-Cola Company. It is a competitor to PepsiCo’s Gatorade.
Although it has yet to catch up with Gatorade’s popularity, Powerade still holds about 29 percent of market share among commercially available sports drink in the United States.
Powerade comes in various flavors. These include Mountain Berry Blast, Orange, Fruit Punch, Grape, Lemon Lime, Blackberry, Melon, among others.
Lipton Iced Tea Lemon
Sugar level: 20 US fluid ounces of the drink has 31 grams of sugar
Lipton is the fifth beverage with the highest brand value in 2017, raking over 7.9 billion US dollars. The British brand tea’s ready-to-drink beverages are marketed by Pepsi Lipton International which is jointly owned by PepsiCo and Unilever.
Known as Lipton Iced Tea, the ready-to-drink beverage is Lipton’s main pillar brands alongside Lipton Yellow Label.
Pepsi
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 41 grams of sugar
The fourth most valuable drink in terms of brand value with about 10.6 billion US dollars. The beverage produced and manufactured by PepsiCo boasts 125 years of history beginning in 1893 when it was created and developed by American pharmacist Caleb Davis Bradham.
Pepsi was initially introduced as Brad’s Drink after its creator then was renamed into Pepsi-Cola in 1898. Then, it eventually bore its present name, Pepsi, in 1961. The beverage brand is a competitor of The Coca-Cola Company’s Coca-Cola drink.
Mountain Dew
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 46 grams of sugar
Mountain Dew is the 15th most valuable beverage brand garnering over 2.7 billion US dollars in terms of brand value. The soft drink brand is manufactured and owned by PepsiCo since 1964 after an acquisition from Tip Corporation.
Mug Root Beer
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 43 grams of sugar
Mug Root Beer is another beverage drink manufactured by PepsiCo under its subsidiary New Century Beverage Company of San Francisco, California.
The beverage was initially produced by the Belfast Beverage Company as Belfast Root Beer during the 1940s. In 1986, PepsiCo purchased it.
Original 7 Up
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 38 grams of sugar
Created by Charles Leiper Grigg in 1929, 7 Up was first known as Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda. It is manufactured by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group in the US. Meanwhile, PepsiCo holds the brand’s rights in the rest of the world. 7 Up has different variations including diet, retro, cherry, lime, light, orange, raspberry, among others.
Dr. Pepper
Sugar level: 20 US fluid ounces of the drink has 64 grams of sugar
First introduced in 1885 in the United States, Dr. Pepper is one of the most famous carbonated soft drink in the United States. It ranks 13th among beverage brands in terms of brand value. Its brand value is worth 2.9 billion US dollars.
Dr. Pepper was formulated by Charles Alderton, a Brooklyn-born pharmacist in the 1880s and was first nationally marketed in the US in 1904.
Gatorade Cool Blue
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 21 grams of sugar
Gatorade is the 11th most valuable beverage brand in the world in 2017 with over 4.6 billion US dollars in terms of brand value. When it comes to market share in the United States, Gatorade dominates the sports drink category with over 75 percent share.
The sports drink was created in 1965 at the University of Florida College of Medicine led by Dr. Robert Cade. It was initially produced and distributed by Stokely-Van Champ before Quaker Oats Company purchased it in 1987. In 2000, PepsiCo bought the company and now, manufactures and distributes the sports drink.
Red Bull
Sugar level: 8.4 US fluid ounces of the drink has 27 grams of sugar
Considered the third most valuable beverage brand for 2017 with over 11.5 billion US dollars in brand value, Red Bull also has the highest market share among energy drinks worldwide. The energy drink distributed by Austrian company Red Bull GmbH sells more than six billion cans a year as of 2016.
Red Bull was inspired by Chaleo Yoovidhy’s Krating Daeng and was modified to suit the taste of Westerners by Dietrich Mateschitz.
Tropicana 100% Orange Juice Pulp Free (Frozen)
Sugar level: 12 US fluid ounces of the drink has 23 grams of sugar
Tropicana, which is the ninth most valuable beverage brand in 2017, is distributed by Tropicana Products, Inc. The company was founded by Anthony T. Rossie in 1947. Since 1998, Tropicana was acquired by PepsiCo. It was combined with the Dole brand, becoming the world’s foremost producer of branded fruit juices.
Now You Know. What’s Next?
Now you know that 12 to 20 US fluid ounces of your favorite drink is more than enough to satisfy the recommended amount of sugar intake in your diet. So, now what will you do?
If saying no to sugar is difficult to do, you can take measures to at least not go over the recommended sugar intake. Nevertheless, you should find ways to prevent sugar from taking a toll on your oral health and overall health.
Reduce your sugar intake.
If removing sugar in your diet is hard, learn to limit it. Instead of gulping a can of Coke until the last drop, drink only half of it or less. If you are already drinking something sweet, do not partner it with another sweet treat.
Choose your sugar.
There are a lot of enticing foods that are, unfortunately, filled with unhealthy sugar. To cut back the amount of sugar your body houses, cut back not just on sugary beverages but foods as well. That said, if you cannot live without a glass of Sprite, try to live without a cake or that Mars bar.
Find alternatives.
Tropicana is convenient and satisfies our palette, but it contains too much added sugar. So, if you are into juices, make them all-natural. Use a juicer to get those nutrients out of fruit. Although sweet, the fructose found in fruits is not enough to cause danger to health, according to Healthline.com. Also, fruits are loaded with water, vitamins, and fiber that give the body significant time to digest.
Drink more water.
There cannot be enough emphasis when it comes to drinking water. After finishing your Pepsi, grab a glass of water to rinse the sugar that may have lingered in your mouth.
Engage in basic oral health.
Brush your teeth, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. Easy to remember, right? However, be sure to wait 30 minutes before after eating or drinking something sugary before brushing.
Visit your dentist.
A dental appointment is recommended at least twice a year. It is imperative that a dental check-up must be done to check on the condition of your mouth. It also allows early treatment for dental issues.
Foods And Drinks
Nutrients allow the cells in our body to function properly. Food is our body’s “source of information” on how to function. If our body does not get the “right information,” its functioning suffers. Our health declines as a result.
Since 431 B.C., the Father of Medicine Hippocrates had recognized the essentiality of food in keeping our overall health in check.
He once articulated, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Many studies agree with Hippocrates, showing the health benefits associated with certain foods.
Keeping a balanced and nutritious diet is key to a healthy life. And an essential part of our overall well-being lies in our oral health. As it’s said, the mouth is the mirror of the body.
After all, food comes in contact with our body first through our mouth. In turn, maintaining healthy teeth and gums can lead to a well-functioning body.
Thus, our teeth need healthy foods. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends consuming food rich in vitamins and minerals and avoiding sugar-rich food.
To help you achieve stronger and healthier teeth through your diet, consider the following foods:
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Celery, carrots, and apples
These three crunchy foods act like a toothbrush to our teeth by wiping away excess bacteria in the mouth. They also stimulate saliva production which is essential in maintaining our oral health. Saliva functions as a lubricant. Additionally, it triggers antimicrobial and cleansing activity, tissue repair, and the dilution of sugars after food and drink intake. Celery, carrots, and apples contain high levels of vitamin A and C for stronger gums.
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Leafy vegetables
Vitamins and minerals such as calcium fill these foods. Calcium, in particular, helps in the building the enamel, one of the four primary tissues of the human tooth. Leafy vegetables also contain folic acids which are beneficial in preventing gum diseases.
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Yogurt, milk, and cheese
These dairy products have protein and calcium to strengthen the enamel and the protective minerals found on the surfaces of the teeth. They also neutralize acids in the mouth. Yogurt contains probiotics which combat harmful bacteria while milk and cheese encourage saliva production.
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Citrus fruits
Like celery, carrots, and apples, citrus fruits increase the flow of saliva to shield the enamel from erosion. They also wash away acid-producing bacteria thanks to the liquid found in citrus fruits.
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Cashews
This nut has abundant microbe-fighting properties to destroy bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum diseases.
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Raw onions
By chewing raw onions for two to three minutes, oral cavity can potentially be killed. Raw onions have natural, antibacterial properties and sulfur compounds helpful in preventing dental caries.
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Raisins
Despite its innate sweetness, raisins do not contain sucrose that aid in the buildup of plaque. Instead, raisins suppress the development of oral bacteria. However, make sure to brush well after consuming raisins as they tend to be sticky and gooey.
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Sesame seeds
These foods are abundant in calcium. Sesame seeds also builds enamel and dissolves plaque.
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Broccoli
This vegetable contains iron. Thus, broccoli can form an acid-resistant film on the teeth. It also contains high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C. Broccoli additionally helps in the prevention of cancer, including oral cancer.
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Shiitake mushrooms
This edible mushroom native to East Asia has natural, anti-microbial properties.
Aside from eating this nutrient-filled food, it is best to avoid foods that are unhealthy and cause harm to your oral health and overall well-being.
Practice consuming a well-balanced diet and good health habits for your body to function to its full potential.
