Have you ever wondered if energy drinks are alkaline or acidic? Well, that is a question to which you should have an answer. And not only regarding these drinks but other foods as well. Why is that? Anything you eat passes through your digestive tract and can either be beneficial or wreak havoc on your health.
For example, people love taking lemon water. This highly acidic beverage is harmful to the teeth as well as the stomach. This acidity works in eroding teeth and can increase the acidity in the stomach. The result is damaged enamels and stomach upsets. You can now see where this is going. In this article, we will focus on the pH range of energy drinks and how this can affect you.
Are energy drinks acidic or alkaline? Energy drinks are highly acidic, and they fall under different pH levels. Some contain so many acidic ingredients that they are as corrosive as battery acid. Drinking acidic beverages is bad for your teeth, among other things.
Acidic or alkaline, does it matter?
Energy drinks are very acidic, some even come close to the levels of battery acid. Yes, that acid that you should never touch with your bare hands could compare to some of these beverages. Now, imagine consuming a drink with this much corrosive substances. And then picture doing this regularly. For regular energy drink consumers, the average number of cans per day is three.
Earlier, we mentioned the role of pH in all this. It is a measure of how alkaline or acidic a product is. Generally, it runs to 14. Neutral products such as milk and water lie in the mid of this range, having a pH of 7. Anything that falls under 7 is on the acidic side, and anything above this figure is alkaline. Let’s cover some products which are generally acidic.
Take a lemon, for example. The mention of this fruit should have you feeling some way. Have you ever bit into a fresh lemon? How did that feel? Well, this fruit has a pH of 2, which makes it highly acidic. Stomach acid falls into the range of 1 to 3. Battery acid, which is highly corrosive, has a pH of 0. Do you remember the part where we covered some energy drinks having a similar acidity? That would mean that they lie on the extreme end of this range.
Where do energy drinks come in regarding this range? Most energy drinks range from 1.5 to 3.3 pH, with some falling higher or lower this range. Given the substances mentioned earlier, can you see how acidic this can be? That means that the drink you regularly consume could be worse than biting into lemons with your bare teeth.
Rock Star energy drinks and Monster energy drink have a pH of 2-1.79. That's crazy if you know how acidic that is.
— Roy Starr-Lord (@R_LS_30) October 23, 2014
Effects on the teeth due to acidic energy drinks
Tooth enamel consists of 96% minerals. That’s what is visible on your teeth. It has an off-white shade and is quite hard. This part is not replaceable, unlike the crown. Once tooth enamel gets destroyed, it never comes back. It means that you cannot eat and drink as you would like owing to the pain you would suffer.
Destroying this part of the tooth exposes the roots of the teeth. If you have ever experienced tooth sensitivities or a toothache, then you know that it is not a walk in the park. You would either have to face this unbearable pain or seek medical attention. Choices vary from teeth removal to wearing caps and dentures. It is a change that will be with you for a lifetime. That’s how dangerous this situation is.
In most cases, the destruction owes to exposure of the enamel to acid. You might think that this destruction might call for vast amounts of acid for it to take place. But that could not be further from the truth. The consumption of acidic foods works in exposing your teeth to acid, hence causing this destruction. As you take a swig of lemon water, you create this contact. And that weakens this part of the teeth.
So what should you do? Should you take something acidic and grab your toothbrush immediately? The answer is no. You might think that regular brushing works in getting rid of the acidity, but that is not the case. If anything, it makes the situation much worse. Once the enamel has been in contact with acid, it becomes more vulnerable to abrasion. That means that as you brush, you work on further weakening it.
Generally, your dental health depends on a myriad of factors. And now you have something else to add to this list: acidity. The more that you consume acidic foods or beverages, the more damage you cause to your teeth. So taking energy drinks on the regular might not be such a good idea.
It does not help that these drinks are also full of sugar. Another key enemy to dental health is the following of a high sugar diet. Whether it is fruit juices or energy drinks, high sugar works in eroding the enamel. That happens owing to the acidic environment created in the mouth.
So if you take energy drinks often without catering to the needs of your teeth, enamel erosion is likely to take place. The teeth become sensitive, given that they no longer have a line of defense. Also, they can turn yellow, crack, develop cavities, and get transparent tips. These are but some of the warning signs that all is not well with your dental health.
How to prevent acidic energy drink damage
The best way to prevent enamel erosion would be to avoid any acidic and sugary foods or beverages, such as energy drinks. But that might not be possible in some cases. After all, you might have an urge to get an energy boost now and then.
When you do take such a drink, ensure that you follow through by rinsing your mouth with water. Also, work on regularly brushing your teeth after meals. However, that should happen at least twenty minutes after consuming anything that is not water. Any sooner could pave the way for enamel erosion.
Acidic drinks and the stomach
Your stomach comprises acids that work in digesting food. The consumption of acidic foods leads to an increase in the acidity of the stomach. To some people, this may not be much of an issue. However, for people who have pre-existing stomach conditions, this could make the symptoms worse.
Effects include pain, bleeding, ulcerations, and inflammation, among others. These are likely to come about owing to the high caffeine content in these drinks. Caffeine works in increasing acid production. That’s why you may experience heartburn after having an energy drink.
Conclusion
While energy drinks provide an energy boost and improve focus and productivity, they also pose a myriad of health risks. From stomach upsets to the erosion of teeth, the acidity in these drinks can harm you. Where you can, you should avoid them altogether. Where this measure is not feasible, ensure that you use moderation in your consumption. Also, counter the effects of the acidity by drinking water.
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