• What can soft drinks do to your stomach?soft drink image by Kit Wai Chan from Fotolia.com
  
  Many health experts would agree that soft drinks have become a marketable drug to today's youth. According to James Duke, Ph.D., soft drinks are full of phosphorus, which is a bone dissolving agent. Many other chemicals are found in soft drinks, leading many parents to wonder if their children should be drinking soda. Of particular concern is the effects of soft drinks on the stomach.
  
  

Weight Gain and Malnutrition

• We all know that soft drinks have a great deal of refined sugar, which adds up to empty calories. Soft drinks lack substantial nutritional value, which leaves us feeling hungry. Excess calories that we do not burn off turn to fat, causing us to put on weight. The extra fat can lead to digestive problems in the stomach. Even diet soft drinks can be harmful--they often contain the chemical aspartame as a low calorie sugar replacement. Studies have shown that the chemical aspartame found in diet soft drinks can actually make us feel hungrier. Diet soft drinks have been attributed to the increase of obesity in younger children who are often the targeted consumers of soft drink companies. Extreme cases have shown that some people addicted to soft drinks have experienced severe gastrointestinal problems resulting in a loss of appetite. This can result in malnutrition, which can lead to a swollen abdomen and diarrhea.
  
  

Acidity In the Stomach

• A major concern regarding soft drinks is the high phosphorus content, which has adverse effects in people with stomach problems. The phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide combination in soda makes soft drinks highly acidic. This reacts with the acids already in the stomach to create a more acidic environment. The phosphoric acid in soft drinks reacts with the hydrochloric acid in the stomach, causing indigestion, gas and bloating.
  
  

Caffeine Effects On The Stomach

• A major complication with increased caffeine intake is the effect on gastrointestinal digestion. Caffeine asks as a diuretic, and can cause problems with normal digestive functions. Due to caffeine being a diuretic, it actually draws water out of the intestine and stomach. This removal of water can cause dehydration and aids in the deterioration of the stomach lining. If you find that you are having digestive problems, it is best to avoid soft drinks since they often contain high amounts of caffeine.
  
  

Non-Caffeine Soft Drinks

• Non-caffeine soft drinks have been attributed with positive effects on the stomach. These drinks are often used for their carbonation effect to settle upset stomach. However, soft drink carbonation can actually irritate the stomach acids, and often eventually results in stomach bloating and more gas. If you have an upset stomach, it would be best to take a neutral stomach antacid to avoid the adverse effects of soft drink carbonation.