After several studies have indicated that soda and sugary drinks are the main
source of calories in the diet, most nutritionists warn that Coca-Cola and other
soft drinks can be damaging to health if consumed in excess, particularly for
young children, instead of providing a complement to a balanced diet. The drink
has also been criticized for his use of caffeine, which can cause physical
dependence.
It has also demonstrated a long-term relationship between regular consumption
of cola and osteoporosis in older women. This is probably due to the presence
of phosphoric acid in the drink, as it was found that the risk was the same for
colas with and without caffeine, and regardless of whether it was sugared or diet
colas.
Despite the many court cases brought against The Coca-Cola Company since
the 1920s, claiming that the acidity of the drink is dangerous, they have not
found evidence to support this claim. Under normal conditions, the evidence
indicates that the acidity of Coca-Cola does not cause immediate harm.
In the US, since 1980, Coca-Cola takes between its ingredients high fructose
corn syrup (HFCS). Initially it was used in combination with sugarcane, more
expensive, but since the end of 1984 the formulation is fully sweetened with
HFCS. Some nutritionists warn against the use of HFCS, as it may aggravate
obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus when sugar cane was also used.
In 2003, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-governmental
organization in New Delhi, said that soft drinks produced by soft drinks
manufacturers in India, including PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company
multinationals, contained toxins such as lindane, DDT, malathion and
chlorpyrifos, pesticides that may contribute to cancer development and immune
collapse.
After accusations of pesticides carried out in 2003, sales of Coca-Cola in India
decreased by 15 percent. In 2004, an Indian parliamentary committee endorsed
the conclusions of the CSE and a committee appointed by the government was
responsible for developing the first global standards for pesticides in soft drinks.
The Coca-Cola Company has responded that its plants filter water to remove
potential contaminants and their products are tested to verify the absence of
pesticides, must meet minimum standards of health before distribution
As stated in The Skinny on Obesity Program at the University of California,
while Coca-Cola has about 55 mg of salt per can, this is not noticeable due to
the high sugar content that incorporates. This fact, added to the caffeine content
and its diuretic effect, makes the drinking water will tend to eliminate the urine
increased thirst sensation (water is removed by the diuretic while retaining salt
effect) and therefore dehydration, which depends on a balance between the
water intake and the water eliminated by the body.