There's no better way to quench your thirst than by enjoying a nice glass of root beer. It's been a fan-favorite drink for many years and continues to be chosen over diet soda for its light and crisp taste. But, what most people don't know is that root beer is filled with sugar and other harmful ingredients. Here's why health experts say you should avoid root beer altogether!
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1. Most brands feature high fructose corn syrup
Ever wonder why your root beer tastes so sweet? It's probably due to the high amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that's used. When consumed in high quantities, HFCS can be a direct link to diabetes and obesity.
2. There could be mercury in there, too!
Recent studies have found that roughly 50% of HFCS samples contain mercury, which can damage the body's immune system, brain, and vital organs. That's one ingredient that we definitely don't want in our root beer!
3. It can affect your tooth enamel
Strong and healthy teeth are always the goal. But when you drink sugary drinks like root beer, you're running the risk of weakening your teeth and causing decay, all thanks to the sugar content!
4. All that sugar can cause insomnia
There's also a lot of caffeine in root beer, which can distrupt your sleep patterns and cause insomnia, too! And there are a lot of unhealthy consequences that come from not getting a good night's sleep... like, overeating and feeling stressed.
5. The ingredients can affect your mood, too!
Aspartame, an artificial sweetner used in diet root beer, has been found to cause irritability, anxiety, and depression in most people. So, not only is your root beer hurting your waistline, but it's also hurting your mood!
6. It can cause cancer?
Caramel color is used to give root beer its signature brown tinge, but it has been added to California's List of chemicals that are known to cause cancer. There was even a petition filed by The Center for Science in the Public Interest asking the FDA to ban it, too!
7. Caramel color can cause more that just cancer
Not only has caramel color been linked to cancer, but it can also increase your blood pressure AND decrease your body's amount of white blood cells.
8. Root beer isn't always gluten-free
If you're allergic to gluten, you should definitely consider putting down that glass of root beer. Caramel color could potentially cause severe allergic reactions to those who have a gluten sensitivity.
9. Its preservatives aren't doing you any favors either
You can also find sodium benzoate in root beer, as it prevents high fructose corn syrup from spoiling. The synthetic version of this preservative in root beer can cause DNA damage, which can then lead to Parkinson's disease and assorted liver problems, too!