A health specialist has recommended cutting certain popular drinks from your diet, and some of the advice may be unexpected.
Today, the variety of drink options is vast, providing consumers with numerous choices. However, some beverages favored in the United States might not be as healthy as they seem.
In 2022, the non-alcoholic drinks market was valued at an impressive $149.62 billion, according to Fortune Business Insights. Similarly, the alcoholic beverages market reached nearly $260 billion that year, as reported by Park Street.
Naturopathic doctor Janine Bowring believes that these industries might be profiting from selling drinks that are not beneficial to consumers’ health.
On TikTok, Bowring identified five ‘toxic’ drinks that she advises avoiding.
“Discover the five toxic beverages that can harm your health and learn how to make healthier choices,” reads the caption of her video.
While some of her insights might be anticipated, others are more surprising.
Bowring highlights the risks associated with alcoholic drinks like beer and wine: “What research is showing is that things like beer and wine can (and most times do) contain glyphosate.”
“This is a herbicide that can really damage your gut wall lining. That’s called leaky gut syndrome. This can then lead to into some autoimmune disorders.”
However, there is no need to be overly alarmed, as the referenced study found only trace amounts of glyphosate in beer and wine. According to a spokesperson for the Beer Institute, an adult would need to consume over 140 glasses of wine or beer daily to encounter issues, as reported by USA Today.
While it might be tempting to grab a sports drink after exercising, Bowring advises against it.
“They’re loaded with sugar, and if it’s the low sugar type, they have artificial sweeteners most times,” she stated.
Energy drinks are also a concern, having been labelled a ‘danger to public health’ by the World Health Organization.
Despite having fewer calories, diet sodas may not be the healthier choice.
Bowring’s issue with diet sodas lies in the use of the sweetener, aspartame.
Additionally, celebrity nutritionist Sarah Carolides has raised concerns about the phosphoric acid present in these drinks.
Carolides notes that the acid “gets straight into your bloodstream and causes the pH of the blood to drop because it’s acidic.”
“The blood then has to make it more alkaline again, so there is evidence that it interferes with calcium absorption, because calcium is a big fat alkaline molecule,” she told UNILAD.
@j9naturally 5 TOXIC Drinks You Should NEVER Consume❌🥤 Discover the 5 toxic beverages that can harm your health and learn how to make healthier choices. From sugary drinks to artificially sweetened beverages, we’re counting down the top drinks to avoid in order to protect your well-being. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, improve your energy levels, or simply feel better in your own skin, this video reveals the shocking truth about the drinks that are holding you back. Watch until the end to find out which drinks made the list and what you can replace them with for a healthier, happier you. #foodstoavoid #nutrition
Many may find it surprising that coconut water is on the list, as both coconuts and water are generally considered healthy.
Bowring elaborates: “Out of season, it can be a problem. Not only does it have a little bit of sugar, but it does have deuterium and can really deplete your energy over time.”
Osmio Water explains: “Deuterium is a natural element, the heavy form of hydrogen. High deuterium levels in the human body can have a negative impact causing chronic fatigue, metabolic problems and premature ageing.”
Another surprising item is fruit juice.
Bowring points out that it is “very high in fructose,” which can potentially lead to a fatty liver.
Fructose, a natural sugar found in many fruits, vegetables, and honey, can contribute to conditions like diabetes, obesity, leptin resistance, and elevated blood levels of uric acid if consumed in excessive amounts, according to Healthline.