We all know fizzy drinks like Coca Cola are loaded with sugar, but do you really know what happens to your body when you glug a can of the sweet stuff?
An infographic which reveals the disturbing effect Coke has within an hour of entering your system has gone viral.
Based on research by health writer Wade Meredith, it explains that a 330ml can of Coca Cola contains so much sugar, your body should vomit – but the phosphoric acid “cuts the flavor”, helping you keep the liquid down.
After 40 minutes, your blood sugar has spiked, your pupils dilated, and your blood pressure has risen.
The body starts to produce more dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s pleasure centres – “physically the same way heroin works, by the way”.
By the time the hour is up, you will want to urinate, and start to have a sugar crash, making you drowsy and irritable.
“You’ve also now, literally, p***** away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like hydrating your system, or building strong bones and teeth,” the account concludes.
The infographic’s creator, former UK pharmarcist Niraj Naik, says that this pattern “applies to pretty much most caffeinated soft drinks, not just Coke.
“If you care about your heart, health and mind then please remember this article next time you reach for that bottle.”
A Coca-Cola spokesperson said: “People have enjoyed drinking a Coca-Cola for more than 129 years. Like all soft drinks, it is perfectly safe to drink and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle. We provide a choice of colas to meet the needs of different consumers, including options that are lower sugar, sugar free and caffeine free.”