Does Sprite Have Caffeine? Disadvantages & Side Effects Of Drinking Soft Drinks

Overview

Soft drinks

Soft drinks are regarded as the most typical source of added sugar in the diet of the typical American. Despite being widely used, soft drinks have been connected to a variety of health issues, including tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and disorders of the liver, kidneys, and heart diseases. ¹ Overview | Researched based study from Sleep Foundation

Sprite

What is Sprite?

• The Coca-Cola business invented the soft drink Sprite. It is clear in color and has a lemon and lime flavor. 
• Sprite presents diverse flavors like ginger, cranberry, vanilla, cherry, grapefruit, orange, tropical, catering to various taste preferences.
• More recent iterations of Sprite are sweetened with normal cane sugar rather than artificial sweeteners.¹ Sprite | Researched based study from Sleep Foundation

Ingredients

Ingredients of Sprite

• Water
• Sweetener
• Flavoring agents
• Acidic Citrus
• Sodium Benzoate
• Sodium Citrate

Water

• Soft drinks are considered beverages; hence water will always be the primary constituent. In the US, regular Sprite contains 88 to 90 % water. ² Ingredients | Researched based study from Being Human
• The water content is greater, at about 95 %, in Europe.² Ingredients | Researched based study from Being Human This is so that European Sprite contains less sweetness. 
• Sprite is made using carbonated water. This indicates that some absorbed carbon dioxide has been added to the water to produce the frothy, crunchy mouthfeel.² Ingredients | Researched based study from Being Human

Sweetener

• Additionally, soft drinks are frequently sweetened to improve their flavor. Various sweeteners may be used, depending on the legislation. 
• Sweeteners like corn syrup with a high fructose content may be used in the US.
• Natural cane sugars may be used in place of table sugar in other nations.
• Aspartame and sucralose, two artificial sweeteners, are also included in more contemporary Sprites. 
• Given that excessive use of natural sugar is known to result in diabetes and a host of other health problems, this is presumably an effort to assist public health.

Lime and Lemon Flavor

• To give soft drinks a distinctive flavor, flavorings are usually added. 
• It is lime and lemon flavored for Sprite. 
• Since Sprite’s label states that the lemon and lime tastes are “natural,” it’s possible that these fruits’ natural juices are what these flavors are actually made of.

Acidic Citrus

• To assist in producing the gas and bubbly effect, citric acid is added to Sprite; this organic substance reacts when combined with bicarbonate of soda to produce carbon dioxide gas. 
• Consequently, your beverages start to fizz.
• The bubbly effects vanish when the bicarbonate and citric acid have completed reacting. 
• This explains why, after being left open for a time, the soft drink becomes bad.

Sodium Benzoate

• Since sodium benzoate functions similarly to sodium citrate in enhancing Sprite’s tanginess, acidity, and citrusy flavor, it is likely added to Sprite for both flavor and preservation purposes.
• Additionally, it contributes to the drink’s preservation and increases its shelf life.

Sodium Citrate

• Sprite contains sodium citrate, perhaps as a flavoring ingredient. It contributes to enhancing the drink’s acidic and citrus flavors. 
• It is a typical component found in soft drinks that taste like citrus fruits.² Ingredients | Researched based study from Being Human

Caffeine Content

Are all sprite caffeine-free?

• Yes, Sprite is devoid of caffeine. The main components are water and sugars, constituting most of the drink, while lime and lemon infuse their distinctive flavors.
• Preservatives including sodium citrate, citric acid, and sodium benzoate are also present. 
• The presence of caffeine in Coca-Cola is widely known. Since it is the most consumed soft drink worldwide, many people believe that all soft drinks have caffeine. 
• This is incorrect, though. There are several soft drinks without caffeine, including Sprite.
• Despite popular misconception, Sprite is free from caffeine, setting it apart from what many people assume or believe.²Caffeine Content| Researched based study from Being Human

Side Effects

Side effects of Sprite

Is sprite good at night?

Soft drinks including Sprite, are categorized as SSBs or sugar-sweetened beverages. Brown sugar, fructose, sugar syrup, glucose, and dextrose are among examples of sweeteners. In addition to soft drinks, SSBs also include certain juices, fruit drinks, and energy drinks, as well as coffee and tea with added sugars.

There are a few reasons why soft drinks affect sleep, according to researchers. These include:

Caffeine

• Drinking anything caffeinated right before bed might make it harder to fall and stay asleep since caffeine makes you more awake. 
• According to one study, those who sleep five or fewer hours per night and those who sleep six or fewer hours of sleep per night consume more caffeinated SSBs than those who get the required seven to eight hours.
• Caffeine used in moderation throughout the day is not always harmful. Caffeinated beverages can also provide a much-needed boost for shift workers who need to be attentive at night. 
• However, because caffeine takes a while to wear off, you should not consume these drinks in the hours before going to bed. ¹ Side Effects | Researched based study from Sleep Foundation

Heartburn

• Heartburn happens after eating or drinking when the lower esophageal sphincter, a ring of muscle towards the bottom of the esophagus, does not contract enough. This may result in reflux, a condition where stomach acid enters the esophagus again.
• Although regular symptoms might point to the more dangerous illness referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which affects many individuals, many people suffer occasional heartburn.
• People who regularly have heartburn may wish to avoid meals and drinks that bring on these symptoms since the discomfort it causes can easily interfere with sleep. 
• According to one study, drinking SSBs along with other carbonated beverages significantly raises your likelihood of experiencing heartburn symptoms that keep you up at night by 24 %. ¹ Side Effects | Researched based study from Sleep Foundation

Nocturia

• Nocturia is the term for the urge to urinate throughout the middle of the night, which might interfere with your ability to sleep.
• Approximately one-third of adults have nocturia. In addition to underlying medical disorders and other variables like medication, drinking soda before bed, especially caffeinated SSBs, can also result in nocturia.
• The possibility of a reciprocal link between sleeping and SSBs should also be noted. Lack of sleep has been linked in several studies to physiological and behavioral alterations that affect the foods and beverages we eat.
• Sleep deprivation affects leptin and ghrelin, hormones that regulate hunger, potentially leading to increased appetite and eating throughout the day. ¹ Side Effects | Researched based study from Sleep Foundation

Weight Gain

• Obesity might make you more susceptible to developing several sleep problems. 
• Obstructive sleep apnea results in patients frequently waking during the night due to gasping for air or experiencing choking sensations. 
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), a different ailment, causes shallow breathing when you sleep and may make you feel excessively sleepy throughout the day. 
• OHS, as its name implies, affects those whose body mass index is at least 30 kg/m2, which is within the adult 95th percentile. ¹ Side Effects | Researched based study from Sleep Foundation

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of drinking Sprite or any soft drinks

Everywhere we go, there are soft drinks accessible, thus they are a part of everyday life. Consuming carbonated beverages can lead to various health problems and concerns.

Soft drinks cause a variety of major health problems, including:

• Diabetes
• High body weight
• Cardiovascular disease
• Gastrointestinal troubles
• Tumors
• Liver damage
• Infertility
• Problems with teeth and bones and many more in both young people and the elderly. 

Soft drinks mostly cause ailments like diabetes, renal failures, decreased metabolism levels, being overweight, bone damage, and issues with reproduction in today’s children and young people, but a new study revealed that these beverages also impair our brain functioning.

• In addition, it affects the entire body systems of people of all ages. 
• In particular, it has an impact on a woman’s menstrual cycle, reproductive system, circulation, and diabetes; in fact, it has an impact on every physiological structure.
• Because of fizzy beverages and junk food, a menstrual cycle that is overly lengthy (about 35 days or more) is the leading contributor to infertility in women.
• Numerous studies have demonstrated the detrimental consequences of soda consumption on your teeth and waistline.³Disadvantages | Researched based study from Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs

Alternatives

Are there healthier alternatives to Sprite?

• Sprite Zero Sugar is one of the healthier Sprite substitutes. You may make your own Sprite by carbonating water after adding lemon and lime extracts. Lemonade can also be consumed if some lime juice is added.
• Even though it lacks caffeine, Sprite remains an unfavorable choice for consumption. This is because drinking ordinary Sprite may result in you consuming a lot of sugar because it may still have a significant level of sweeteners.
• Consuming too much sugar on a regular basis elevates the chance of developing diabetes as well as a variety of other health issues including weight gain, coronary artery disease, and metabolic imbalances.
• Sweeteners have a history of making people gain weight, which can lead to becoming overweight or, worse, obese.²Alternatives | Researched based study from Being Human

Sprite alternatives are as follows:

Seltzer water with a lemon and lime flavor

• Consider making your own Sprite at home if you are serious about becoming healthy and have the time and energy to do it. Infuse lemon and lime into the water for the first 24 hours minimum. 
• When ready, take the water out and carbonate it with a seltzer machine. Remove the carbonated water and add the lemon and lime slides you used for the infusion procedure back in.
• Feel free to add additional sweeteners if you like them. Making your own Sprite gives you complete control over the quantity of sugar you put in it. Additionally, you avoid consuming the extra chemicals in Sprite.

Sugar-free Sprite

• If you absolutely adore Sprite and simply cannot live without it, you might want to think about trying Sprite Zero Sugar. It resembles Sprite in essence but lacks natural sugars. No table sugar nor high-fructose corn syrup is allowed.
• Acesulfame potassium, Sucralose, and Aspartame are examples that contain artificial sweeteners which are often used. These additives satisfy food cravings and health concerns by supplying sweetness with less calories.
• Some have complained that using these artificial sweeteners caused the beverage to taste strange. Even so, it can be less costly to bear than consuming a lot of sugar every day.

Lemonade

• Let us say that you are unable to consume Sprite Zero Sugar or make your own Sprite. 
• You may always choose the middle ground in this situation by consuming a traditional lemonade.
• It has the zesty, lemon flavor you are undoubtedly looking for. 
• Since you do not need to carbonate it, it is also considerably simpler to produce. 
• You are also exempt from performing infusion work.²Alternatives | Researched based study from Being Human