Fizzy is not healthy: The Coca Cola infographic tells us nothing we don't already know

We have always known that Coca Cola—or for that matter any other aerated drink—is not among the best drinks for your health. But like Maggi noodles, fried food and chocolate, we tend to ignore nutrition for taste. So when an infographic about how Coca Cola affects our body one hour after consuming it highlights the high dose of sugar and caffeine emerges, it doesn’t surprise us. The infographic, created by a website called  The Renegade Pharmacist based on an article by Blistree.com, shows that within the first 10 minutes of having the soft drink, 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system which is 100% of your recommended daily intake. After 20 minutes, blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst and by the 45th minute, dopamine production increases stimulating the pleasure centres of your brain, much like heroin. Here’s the complete infographic  This infographic went viral on the Internet with many people panicking over the extreme effects of the beverage. The creator of the infographic, identified as former UK pharmacist Niraj Naik told the Daily Mail that he had done a lot of research on the matter and had discovered that that fizzy drinks and sugar caused major health issues. “I did a presentation all about cholesterol and statins that is one of the most viewed on YouTube on this subject and gives all the evidence for sugar being one of the main causes of heart disease, rather than saturated fat and high cholesterol which we have all been led to believe," he was quoted as saying. Coca Cola however refuted these claims and a spokesperson is quoted in the same report saying, “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.” The statement also added that there were a variety of colas for different consumers, including low sugar, sugar free and caffeine free options. However, Buzzfeed countered The Renegade Pharmacist’s claims in an article titled ‘ Here’s what’s wrong with that viral Coca-Cola graphic’ The story says that they spoke to several experts to fact-check some of the claims and not all the facts checked out.  Buzzfeed quotes a nutritional biologist as saying that majority of people have no trouble consuming 10 teaspoons of a sugar-sweetened beverage, as opposed to the infographic’s claim.  A professor from the Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders also disputed the effects of caffeine as described by the pharmacist. Irrespective of the debate on the exact effects of sugar and caffeine, the fact is that the infographic tells us nothing we do not already know. And although opinions about the accuracy of the information in the infographic may differ and the details will be debated, the fact that aerated drinks are not good for the body, cannot. And while no one will ever suggest that the consumption of fizzy drinks is healthy, it is a certainty that these beverages will remain popular with the masses.