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Cola is a delicious fizzy drink that many people can no longer imagine everyday life without. But how healthy is this? We show you a useful cola application in the household.

Most people only use cola to drink. But the soft drink can do much more. Consequently, you can use it to clear a clogged drain or remove rust.

The success story of cola

Cola is a brown caffeinated and carbonated soft drink. The history of cola began when the American pharmacist John S. Pemberton began mixing a recipe in 1985 that helped with headaches and tiredness but didn’t taste particularly good. But mixed with soda water, the drink was perfect. The original recipe of the cult drink, which has been known for more than 125 years, is still a top-secret today. In any case, the ingredients include water, sugar, herbal extracts, caffeine, as well as carbon dioxide, and phosphoric acid.

Effect of the fizzy drink

In fact, there are many myths surrounding the black shower. Some speak of a medical miracle drug. The truth is that cola is a circulatory stimulant, a good antidote to diarrhea, tastes good, and is a popular food flavoring. However, nutrition experts advise against excessive consumption, because the body automatically absorbs phosphates with every sip. This in turn can interfere with calcium absorption and affect bone stability.

Cola in the household as a clever cleaning aid

But cola can do much more and is considered a cleaning aid in the household: the popular soft drink cleans a wide variety of household items with little effort. You should know the most important areas of application. So in the future, you can grab a cola if you don’t have the right home remedy.

1) For cleaning the toilet

Some people swear by the Coke application to clean their toilet. Accordingly, mix half a liter of the fizzy drink with two packets of baking powder. Then pour the bubbling mixture into the toilet and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Then rinse and scrub everything clean with the toilet brush. Consequently, the phosphoric acid it contains is said to remove limescale and urine scale. It is also an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical cleaners. However, you should use cola without artificial sweeteners. Critics also think that coke should not be used to clean toilets.

2) Clean clogged drain with coke

The ingredients in the shower are also intended to unclog clogged drains. In order for the pipe cleaning with the cola application to work properly, you should use a bottle at room temperature. Otherwise, the useful enzymes for cleaning can be lost. Then, depending on the size of the drain, pour 1 – 2 liters of the cola into it and let it soak in. After the exposure time is over, flush the drain with water. The water should now drain properly again.

3) Effectively remove rust

You can use the cola to rid objects of rust, such as a pan or similar. To do this, put some of the drink on a sponge and use it to clean the affected areas. You can also place the affected objects in the liquid and then clean them. Also, note our tips for cleaning rusty dishes.

4) Cola in the household to clean the metal

The shower is also an effective household remedy for cleaning metal. Because rusty metal objects can also be cleaned with the soft drink by letting them soak in it. You can also treat the metal with other home remedies such as vinegar or cleaning citric acid. This means that rust and dirt are quickly cleaned up.

5) For loosening stubborn deposits

After cooking, burnt leftovers often remain in saucepans. And these are usually difficult to remove. If you want to save time and effort, you can put some cola in the pot. The floor should be completely covered. Then let the liquid boil at low temperature for about 30 minutes. After that, the stubborn deposits should be easy to remove.

6) Remove limescale deposits with the shower

Anyone who likes to drink tea or frequently enjoys other hot drinks knows that limescale builds up in the kettle after a while. Then it’s time to start descaling the kettle. If descaling with vinegar is too time-consuming for you, then use the brown soft drink. To do this, fill the kettle with coke before going to bed and let it take effect afterward. The next morning the lime should dissolve and you can wash everything out.

7) Use cola to remove blood stains

You can also remove blood stains that have settled in various tissues. To do this, put some of the showerheads on the stain and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Then wash the clothes as usual and get clean laundry. In addition, note how to remove stubborn blood stains on mattresses.

8) Effectively remove moss

Some people don’t find moss attractive on their walls or in joints. If you are one of these people, you can use the popular cola as a moss remover. This saves you from having to use an expensive steam device. It can be used for a wide variety of stone surfaces. To do this, simply pour the liquid over the moss and let it take effect. Once connected, you can remove it more easily.

9) Remove grout with coke

If mortar remains stuck to clinker bricks during renovation or other construction work, you can easily remove them with coke. To do this, apply the shower with a brush to the affected areas and then rinse with clear water. The residues of mortar leftover from plastering come off the clinker due to the acidity of the cola. So the wall looks neat again.

Every child knows that cola is not one of the healthiest foods. But in addition to the high sugar content, the Stiftung Warentest also found residues of cleaning agents and disinfectants in some samples. Only four colas were rated “good”. EAT SMARTER has the test winner and the loser.

Cola in the test

In its current issue, Stiftung Warentest examined a total of 30 caffeinated drinks from classic to sugar-free: including 29 colas and a cola imitation from Dr. Pepper. Nineteen products were sweetened with sugar, eight more were sugar-free with sweeteners included, and three other soft drinks were sweetened with sugar and sweeteners such as sweeteners. Two organic products were included in the test as an example.

In addition to established branded products, discounter goods were also examined more closely with regard to their sugar content and their declaration, and tested sensory and chemically. The test verdict: Only 4 colas were rated “good”, and the majority received the grade “satisfactory”. For five colas, it was only enough for the rating “sufficient” and two drinks failed completely with the grade “poor”.

The test winner & the loser

These are the top 4 colas in the test. All received the test results “good”:

  1. Coca-Cola Light for 70 cents per liter
  2. Coca-Cola Zero for 66 cents per liter
  3. Freeway Cola Light from Lidl for 26 cents per liter
  4. River Cola from Aldi Nord for 26 cents per liter

The big loser in the Cola test is Pepsi Light: Due to a very high level of chlorate exposure, the product was only rated “poor”. As the Stiftung Warentest reports, the chlorate found could come from cleaning agents and disinfectants. Chlorate was also detected in other colas in this test but in significantly lower amounts.

Due to their high sugar content, soft drinks are anything but healthy. But what happens if we really drink Cola, Fanta, Sprite & Co. every day? We show what drinking lemonade does to your health.
Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Co. are among the most popular soft drinks worldwide. For many, the soft drinks are a little luxury that you treat yourself to from time to time. But for some, the sugary drinks are firmly integrated into everyday life. Coca-Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks. But how does our body react to the daily consumption of the caffeine-containing pick-me-up?

Drinking soft drinks every day: what is actually in cola?

Even as a child, it is made clear to you that soft drinks are not particularly healthy. But what was actually in Cola? A look at the nutrient table reveals the above-average sugar content. With around 10 to 15 percent sugar and around 42 calories per 100 grams, cola is a real calorie bomb. The values ​​for other soft drinks are also in a similar range.

In addition to the large amount of sugar, cola also contains caffeine and the acidifier E338. E338 stands for phosphoric acid.
The additive provides the sour taste. Other soft drinks such as Fanta or Sprite use the acidifier citric acid (E330).

1. Soft drinks damage teeth

First of all, the obvious: We are taught from an early age that too much sugar is bad for our teeth. Harmless oral bacteria feed on sugar and excrete acid as a metabolic product.

The acid in the additive E338, which is contained in cola, can attack tooth enamel after just a few sips.

2. Blemishes caused by too much sugar

An unhealthy and sugar-heavy diet is not only reflected in our waist gold, but can also be felt on our skin. Skin blemishes such as pimples or acne are often associated with high blood sugar levels.

It has been scientifically proven that young men with skin problems have, on average, higher blood sugar levels than men without skin changes.

So if you drink a soft drink every day, you run the risk of raising your blood sugar level and thus also the risk of pimples, acne and the like.

3. Soft drinks are fattening

Bad teeth, bad skin – all the sugar in lemonade and soft drinks is poorly absorbed by the body. The weight also suffers from the sugary drinks. With 42 kilocalories per 100 milliliters, cola is one of the unhealthiest drinks of all. It does not contain any vitamins or minerals and the body needs a long time to break down the many calories.

Other soft drinks also have high calorie values. Probably the healthiest alternative is water. If the taste is too boring for you, you can switch to unsweetened tea or give your mineral water a delicious taste with freshly cut fruit.

Sugar-free soft drinks also sound tempting at first: They contain fewer calories and you don’t have to worry about the harmful properties of sugar. But the low-calorie drinks are far more harmful than we think. Our intestines in particular suffer from this.

4. Caffeine promotes cardiovascular disease

Cola is also often called a pick-me-up. This is due to the caffeine it contains. If you consume too much coffee or cola, you also exceed the maximum daily recommended amount of caffeine (400 mg per day). This can increase blood pressure.

High blood pressure is considered a risk factor for numerous diseases such as heart attacks, cardiac insufficiency and strokes.
Those who like to drink coffee should avoid energy drinks and caffeinated beverages. A combination of both can quickly lead to an overdose, which can cause long-term damage to health.

5. Bad for the bones

Coke, in particular, can also damage your bones. Why is that? Cola contains phosphoric acid (E338).
If this is taken in large quantities, the absorption of calcium in the bones can be inhibited and bone resorption is promoted.

Calicum is an important part of bone formation and crucial for our bone density. Too little calcium can also be the trigger for the bone disease osteoporosis.

Conclusion on Cola, Fanta and Co.: Enjoy soft drinks in moderation instead of in bulk

Bad teeth, bad skin, bad for the bones, harmful for the cardiovascular system and bad for the body weight: It is best to stop consuming soft drinks and cola at all – at least that’s what it sounds like. However, you should note that all of the above points relate to excessive consumption of sugary soft drinks. Everyone can safely drink a glass of cola in between without getting caries directly. The motto here is: Enjoy soft drinks in moderation instead of in bulk.

As unhealthy as the consumption of cola may be, in other areas the lemonade turns out to be a real all-rounder – for example as a de-icer, toilet cleaner or limescale remover.

For many, cola is a cult drink that is not only drunk as a cool refreshment, but also as a mixed drink at parties. But what effect does cola actually have on you? This is what happens after just one glass in your body.

Shocking news for all cola fans: this really happens in your body after just one glass

After all, cola is one of the most popular soft drinks, especially among children and young people. It’s no wonder, because the manufacturers’ advertising strategies seem to be working. On average, everyone drinks over 33 liters of cola a year (as of 2020). If you add the light versions, it is even more than 45 liters. Around 1.5 billion bottles are sold every day.

But what exactly is in the drink? What is it made of? The exact composition is closely guarded by the manufacturers.

But the main components are well known. These are water, carbon dioxide, flavors, colors, phosphoric acid, caffeine and sugar. And there is more than enough of the latter. A 0.2 liter glass of the dark fizz contains over 21 grams of it. And that’s more than 90% of the WHO recommended daily dose. And the light or zero version? There are artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, and a relatively large amount of phosphoric acid. Incidentally, the caffeine content is between 10 and 25 milligrams per 100 milliliters, depending on the manufacturer.

How unhealthy is cola really?

A nice ice cold cola. The taste on the tongue, the tingling of the carbonic acid. Who thinks at that moment what is happening in the body now? But maybe you should think about it a bit.

Let’s say you drink a 0.33 liter can. You’re immediately ingesting the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar. That’s already more than the World Health Organization recommends, which recommends six teaspoons. After 20 minutes, the blood sugar level reaches its peak. This causes insulin to be released, which prompts the liver to convert the sugar into fat. After 40 minutes, the caffeine intake is complete and the liver releases even more sugar. Blood pressure rises, the pupils dilate. In the brain, the adenosine receptors are blocked, which prevents sleepiness. After 45 minutes, the messenger substance dopamine is increasingly released. This ensures that we feel happiness and well-being. After an hour, the phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in the lower digestive tract, which boosts metabolism. This effect is amplified by the high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners, which drives the excretion of calcium in the urine.

After more than 60 minutes, caffeine’s diuretic properties kick in – you need to pee. And with it, calcium, magnesium and zinc, which, among other things, were intended for the bones, are excreted. Other electrolytes and of course water also leave the body. Now comes the sugar crash. You become nervous, irritable, sluggish, or all of them together. After a few hours, the caffeine crash follows. All the liquid you took in with the cola is gone. And with that, important nutrients that the body needs have literally ended up in the toilet.

Cola as a thirst quencher? These alternatives exist

If you now consider the effects that cola has on the body, what happens if you consume a lot of it over a longer period of time? Due to the yo-yo effect when it comes to sugar, the body demands more and more of it. You want to feel good, savor the happiness that dopamine brings about. And this is where the danger lurks. Too much sugar consumption can lead to obesity, diabetes and the associated damage.

The amount of 3 milligrams per day and kilogram of body weight should not be exceeded in children and adolescents. Together with the sugar consumed in large quantities, cola is therefore more than just questionable for young people.

Conclusion: Cola is not suitable as a thirst quencher. Along with fruit juices, cola is one of the luxury drinks and should therefore be enjoyed in moderation. Alternatives are spritzers or water, which you can enjoy with fruits or other ingredients as “infused water”. Homemade unsweetened iced tea can also be considered as an alternative. This turns thirst quenching into indulgence with no regrets.

Cola is the number one bestseller among soft drinks. But what actually happens when you drink too much of it? Here we tell you what lemonade does to your body.

Coke accelerates weight gain

The high sugar content in the soft drink, along with its equally high calorie count, can increase weight gain. With almost 9 grams of sugar per 100 grams of cola and a calorie content of 40 kilocalories per 100 milliliters, cola is a real calorie bomb.

In addition, the drink lacks vitamins and minerals, which in combination with an unhealthy diet can quickly lead to obesity.

Phosphoric acid damages teeth and bones

The high sugar content not only leads to obesity, but also to bad teeth. Because the sweetener settles on the teeth and thus creates the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. But the phosphoric acid contained in the soft drink also attacks the tooth enamel – even in small quantities.

If phosphoric acid is consumed in excess, it can inhibit calcium absorption and thereby promote bone formation. Calcium is particularly important for bone structure, so a deficiency can lead to a decrease in bone density and thus promote osteoporosis.

Blemishes are inevitable

In addition to hormone fluctuations and stress, an unhealthy diet is the main trigger for skin blemishes. Foods in particular that cause blood sugar levels to rise sharply promote acne and pimples. With its high sugar content, cola is particularly beneficial for annoying skin blemishes.
In addition, excessive sugar consumption can also affect the formation of wrinkles.

sense of taste deteriorates

The sweetness of the drink also has a negative effect on your sense of taste. Regular consumption of cola can even dull your taste buds at worst. This can mean that you no longer recognize other tastes as well.

nervousness and cardiovascular disorders

In addition to sugar, the soft drink also contains a high proportion of caffeine. If you not only drink cola but also other caffeinated drinks such as coffee or tea every day, it can quickly become too much. Because: A high caffeine consumption can cause serious damage to your health. According to a recommendation by the German federal government, you should not drink more than four cups of coffee a day. This corresponds to around 350 milligrams of caffeine.

If you exceed this amount, it can increase the pulse, which can result in a faster heartbeat if you regularly consume too much. This not only increases the risk of insomnia and nervousness, but also cardiovascular disease. Because a faster heartbeat can damage your vessels, which can also calcify your arteries.

You can unclog and clean clogged pipes quickly and easily with normal coke. The trick with cola is suitable if you don’t have any other chemical cleaning agents in the house. And not only clogged pipes can be cleaned with coke.

In the household, it happens again and again that pipes get clogged. Especially in the bathroom, long hair means that the water can no longer drain properly. In addition, more dirt accumulates. And over time, a solid lump forms in the pipe.

Cola as a home remedy for clogged pipes

The removal of such blockages does not always have to be done with chemicals. Because they are expensive and dangerous. You can also save money on a plumber. Instead, try a bottle of Coke. Because cola as a household remedy is used in many areas. As a result, you can also use it to unclog your blocked pipes or drains. So that the water can flow again.

Efficacy of cola for clogged pipes

Clogged pipes are caused by hair that has attracted other dirt. As a result, a lump is formed. The ingredients in the cola can help dissolve it. Because cola contains enzymes that can naturally dissolve the blockages in pipes that have become solid. These are harmless chemical agents. These act as biocatalysts. This means that although they dissolve the pollution themselves, they remain in their original form. As a result, they can loosen more dirt than usual chemicals. Because these usually dissolve after a split. Also, note our tips for cleaning clogged drains.

Which cola should you use and why?

Enzymes are natural chemicals normally found in the animal and human digestive tract. Therefore, this is an environmentally friendly method. For drain cleaning to work properly, you should use room temperature coke. Otherwise, the enzymes can be lost. You should also use cola drinks that contain sucrose for the cleanse.

How to clean clogged pipes with coke

For this, you usually need a liter bottle of coke for a washbasin or a kitchen sink. In contrast, you need 1.5-2 liters for the shower or bath. Then you just have to pour the coke down the drain. Then leave it like that for a few hours. It is best to leave it on overnight. Then you can flush the pipe with water. If the water drains normally, the cola has already taken effect. Otherwise, repeat the process again and increase the exposure time. Our home remedies for clogged toilets are just as helpful.

Advantages of cola as a pipe cleaner

The application with the cola is quick and easy. In addition, it is inexpensive and often you have cola at hand. Meanwhile, chemical drain cleaners are dangerous. Because when they come into contact with the skin, they cause chemical burns. And some are not even meant to be inhaled. This makes it complicated to use.

Other uses for cola

If you want to remove deposits in the toilet and urine scale, you can clean your toilet with coke. Because the acid works wonders. You can also use Cola for rust stains, stains on clothing, burnt pots, limescale in the toilet or to clean windows. Get an overview of the different areas of application of cola with the following video. Because cola is the best cleaning agent.