According to a former pharmacist who goes under the name of Niraj, via his blog The Renegade Pharmacist, it only takes just 10 minutes for 10 teaspoons of sugar (100 percent of the daily recommended intake in the U.S.) to reach the internal workings of the body. This is after gulping down a 330 mL can of Coca Cola. The main constituents in the can are high fructose corn syrup, refined salts and caffeine.
This level of sugar is made palatable, Niraj writes, because the phosphoric acid cuts down the sweetness. Otherwise try putting 10 teaspoons of sugar in an equivalent sized glass of water and drinking it.
At the 20-minute mark, the blood sugar spikes causing a rise in insulin. The liver then responds by turning as much ‘free’ sugar as it can obtain into fat.
At 40 minutes the effect of the caffeine in the consumed can kicks in. Here pupils dilate and blood pressure rises. The liver also puts more sugar into the bloodstream. At 45 minutes the full “pleasure” effect is triggered by dopamine production occurring in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and it plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior.
At the 60 minute mark, the phosphoric acid binds with calcium, magnesium and zinc in the lower intestine. This, combined with sugar, increases the amount of calcium excreted from the body via urination. Just after 60 minutes the diuretic properties of caffeine kick in. It is around this time that the “sugar crash” occurs; in some people, with a sugar addiction, this drives the desire for more sugar.
The thrust of the pharmacist’s argument is that it isn’t really fat that puts on weight, it is the level of sugar in the diet. When one considers the amount of sugar in low-fat foods, using low fat products for dieting could be counter-productive.
When questioned by British Telecom, in response to the Niraj post, a spokesperson from Coca-Cola stated: “‘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.’
