Summer has arrived, and temperatures are rising. The weather is hot, and many people like to drink carbonated beverages to quench their thirst. So, the question is: Can carbonated drinks effectively quench thirst? How should we properly hydrate ourselves?
Carbonated Beverages
1. Carbonated beverages are sugary drinks. Just like sugary drinks, they need to have a certain sugar concentration to help quench thirst. For example, a commonly used 5% glucose solution for infusion has an osmotic pressure that is close to that of body fluids, making it suitable for hydration. Carbonated beverages usually contain around 10% sugar content. Drinking them not only does not effectively hydrate the body but may also cause osmotic diuresis, resulting in increased urine production.
2. Drinking too many carbonated beverages to quench thirst may have adverse effects on the body. Studies have shown that excessive consumption of sugary drinks can increase the risk of tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, overweight or obesity, and abnormal blood lipid levels. It may also increase the occurrence of hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver.
3. Carbonated beverages also contain carbon dioxide, and an excessive amount of carbon dioxide may affect normal digestion, causing bloating and loss of appetite, among other things.
4. Due to the high sugar content in carbonated beverages, they can trigger various types of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as hyperlipidemia. Long-term consumption of carbonated beverages can lead to kidney stones and promote calcium loss, contributing to the formation of stones. It is advisable to consume carbonated beverages in moderation.
Therefore, carbonated beverages are generally not suitable for quenching thirst.
Proper Hydration
In general, feeling thirsty is a warning message from our brain that we haven't had enough water and our body is experiencing dehydration.
Physiologically, dehydration leads to an increase in crystal osmotic pressure in body fluids, which is then transmitted to the sensory receptors and conveyed to the central nervous system, resulting in a feeling of thirst. If the concentration of the drink we consume is too high, it cannot effectively hydrate us. It is similar to being thirsty at sea but unable to quench our thirst by drinking seawater.
Therefore, in general, drinking plain water is the simplest and quickest way to quench thirst, such as boiled tap water at home or mineral water sold outside.
