Powdered drinks: What is hidden behind these products?
Much is said about the consumption of soft drinks and their detrimental effect on health, but there is another enemy, very well presented, that can be even worse.
Powdered drinks are presented to us as a very attractive option, but they also do a lot of damage.
There are many brands worldwide that distribute this type of beverage, where juices, teas, cocktails and many other powder presentations are offered. While it is true that they are a good option for those looking for economy, they are not for those looking for good health.
What do powdered drinks contain?
Like soft drinks, nothing happens if its consumption is sporadic, but if it is continuous, some of its components will begin to affect us.
In the case of powdered drinks, there are two elements in particular that are very harmful, these are known as:
tartrazine
This element is one of the colorants that is used to give the product its attractiveness and is implemented worldwide for many other areas of the food industry. It has harmful effects, therefore, its use has been banned in several countries.
Among the best known effects can be counted producing allergies in some people.
It also works as a histamine releaser, which can lead to asthma attacks. Hyperactivity is another symptom that can be activated thanks to tartrazine.
Some studies have indicated that the consumption of this type of dye also influences vision problems, so its consumption is not recommended at all.
aspartame
This chemical works as a sweetener for this type of beverage and many other products, its consumption is less risky, but it still causes damage. In its composition is an element called methanol, which is harmful in excess.
Although its risk is quite low because the percentage that a person ingests is not very high, in sensitive organisms it could cause the following:
Nausea.
Threw up.
brain failures.
Abdominal pain.
At an extreme point, the constant consumption of this type of component could increase an individual's risk of suffering from leukemia or cancer. On the other hand, the kidneys and the blood system also suffer from the consumption of these sugars and dyes.
Why are they so consumed?
These types of drinks are consumed on a large scale throughout the world, despite the fact that many know how harmful they are to health. Its acquisition is mainly due to the following factors:
practicality
These types of drinks are classified as instant, they do not require effort to prepare them and you only need to add water. This facility makes its consumption attractive for many, since preparing a natural juice requires a little more time.
You can buy one or several sachets, and literally carry them in your pocket, and as factories have included multiple flavors over time, this creates a very interesting variety for the consumer.
Economy
An envelope of this type of drink is much cheaper than a small soda and in most presentations it yields the same as a family soda.
On the other hand, if you compare it with a natural juice, it already has sugar included, which reduces the cost.
Those who seek to save much more, buy them by the box, thus the value decreases even more and it seems more profitable than natural fruits that can be damaged if they spend a long time in the refrigerator.
Truths and lies about powdered drinks
Many things are said about this type of drink, but you have to see them from a very objective lens. However, we must clarify some things that are true about them, and others that are nothing more than simple advertising.
It contains vitamins?
It is true, vitamins are included in many of these drinks to enrich their contribution to the body, especially vitamins A and C. These have a small contribution to the consumer in each portion that is ingested.
Does it taste just like a natural juice?
Totally false, its flavor is pleasant, but quite artificial, it is made from chemicals and does not have the texture of fruit. The flavors that best adapt and are perceived are those that are citrus, many others are not very well accepted.
It does not hurt if you put plenty of water
Even if you dilute the powder quite a bit, it and its components still enter your body. It may do some harm on a smaller scale, but it's still a very unbeneficial drink.
light juices are healthy
This type of juice has less artificial sweetener, but the coloring remains the same, so it does not mean that it is healthy, only that it reduces its harmful effect by a certain percentage.
recommendations
The first thing you should take into account is that the practicality and the minutes you save today by preparing these drinks will cost you over the years.
You should never position the artificial above the natural, this is totally contrary to taking care of yourself.
Try to consume natural juices as much as possible, you can vary between the different types that exist to avoid routine. It will be much healthier if you consume them only with the natural sweetness of the fruit, and you save yourself from adding extra sugar.
Finally, don't forget about water, while it may not be the most appealing flavor, it is much healthier in multiple ways than any artificial beverage.