Addicted to cola: what to do?

Coke, who doesn't like it? Generally speaking, this is the soft drink that makes everyone happy during a party. Sinas or other soft drinks just don't have the same effect. This weird brown-black drink with pungency is something that makes some children very happy when they "finally" get to drink the adult version.

Do you drink way too much Coke daily and feel like you are addicted to it? Then take a moment to read this blog so you know how to get rid of that addiction.

What is cola?

Cola is a soft drink best known for the Coca Cola and Pepsi brands. However, there are many more brands offering cola.

Cola was first offered by Coca Cola in 1886 in the U.S. In this country and Mexico, the population also drinks the most cola compared to other countries in the world. Especially in Western countries and developed countries, such as Japan and Argentina, cola is also widely consumed.

What makes cola addictive?

There are several factors that can make cola addictive. Just as with alcohol, not everyone who drinks it becomes addicted to cola, but there are certainly factors that, under certain circumstances, can cause someone to become addicted to it.

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First of all, cola is perceived as a drink you have to feel happy and sociable. Usually with friends, but you might think you’re already on the right track to being happy just by drinking cola—if you believe the commercials.

Because advertisements try to pass on this belief, you can subconsciously get it, causing you to unconsciously reach for Coke during less happy periods.

Sugar

Cola—regardless of the brand—contains an enormous amount of sugar. Sugar is addictive because it makes us feel happy and even gives us a brief burst of energy.

Per liter of cola, it often contains 106 grams of sugar. That's 26.5 grams of sugar per glass, of 250 ml. In 1 lump of sugar there are 4.4 grams. So in 1 glass of cola there are already 6 lumps of sugar. That's an awful lot!

So if you have a real sweet tooth, you can definitely become addicted to cola because of the sugar it contains.

Caffeine

In addition to sugar, there is caffeine in cola. Per liter, there is about 100 ml of caffeine in most brands of cola. That's 25 ml per glass, of 250 ml. Caffeine gives you more energy, which may explain why it is so popular at parties because it prevents everyone from slumping as the evening progresses.

In and of itself, this isn’t a very large amount of caffeine. Coffee , for example, contains more caffeine—specifically, 100 ml per 250 ml. The maximum recommended daily intake of caffeine is 400 ml. So you could even drink 4 liters of cola, but the sugar alone would certainly make that a completely unhealthy choice.

However, this little substance, when combined with the sugar, can cause you to become addicted to cola.

Causes of cola addiction

So, cola contains elements that can be addictive. The fact that not everyone is addicted to cola already shows that it is not a hard drug and that there are apparently circumstances under which someone can become addicted to it.

According to a Danish radio station poll, 16% of 1006 respondents said they considered themselves addicted to cola, but what makes that 16% different from the rest?

Coke during a depressive episode

Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes you hit a rough patch. During a difficult period, you often experience fatigue, a loss of interest, and more negative feelings.

A case study of a woman who suffered from recurring symptoms of depression revealed that she began drinking more cola as a result. This makes sense in itself because cola can give you more energy, but so can coffee. She also drank cola because it made her feel better about herself.

She drank 3 liters of Coke a day from a specific brand. Other brands did not give her the same kick as this brand. This study does not mention the brand.

Coke due to lack of self-confidence

As you can see in this case study, people also drink cola when they lack self-confidence. This is one of the reasons why many people drink cola. When people feel bad about themselves, cola can make them feel better. This also applies to addictions to food, sugar, and even drugs.

What to do about cola addiction?

Drinking more than 2 liters of cola daily can cause you to get too low a level of potassium in your body. This can cause you to develop weakened muscles and eventually even paralysis. While this is very extreme, it is certainly true!

Before this happens, you first suffer from hypertension because your kidneys don't have enough potassium to regulate fluids in your body. You are then like a bloated water balloon, unable to deflate properly due to lack of potassium.

Therefore, it is very important to do something against your cola addiction. That's why I have some tips for you.

Addicted to cola: Tip 1 drink a different version

To cut down on cola or at least to suffer less from the harmful effects of cola, it is important to start cutting down or switch to another version.

Coke with stevia

Because it is generally the sugar that makes cola so addictive, it is important to drink a version of cola that contains less sugar. One particular brand is known to have a version that contains more stevia as a sweetener. Which leaves "only" 2 lumps of sugar per glass.

Now you may think the Diet Coke version is better, but it contains aspartame. Aspartame is also addictive and not that healthy at all. So then go for the version with stevia, which is less unhealthy.

Decaffeinated cola for less caffeine

Caffeine-free cola. By drinking caffeine-free cola, you won’t get that energy boost from it anymore. This can make the cola a lot less appealing, and you’re more likely to switch to a healthier drink than cola to get energy, or you ’ll sleep better anyway because the caffeine won’t keep you awake anymore—which means you’ll also have more energy thanks to the extra sleep.

Addicted to Coke: Tip #2 Why did you start with too much Coke?

Do you feel that your cause is not in between the 2 listed causes of depression and self-confidence? Then it is time to t e search for what has been the trigger with you to start drinking Coke to an amount that is no longer healthy.

Addicted to cola: Tip 3 switch to water or tea

Drinking too much Coke is very unhealthy, which is why you can decide to switch to something else right away. You are then really doing your body a favor when you switch to water or tea.

Finding it hard to quit in 1 sitting? Then phase out drinking Coke by at least 1 liter per week.

For example, if you drink 3 liters of cola a day you start by drinking only 2 liters a day in the^1st week. In the second week you only drink 1 liter a day and in the third week 0.5 liters a day and then in the^4th week you don't drink cola at all.

To still get enough fluids, replace that^1st liter of cola with water or tea (or a combination) each time. This will also allow your kidneys to do their job better and at least you can already suffer less from high blood pressure.

Addicted to Coke: Tip 4 Hypnosis to reduce cravings

In the case study, cognitive therapy is used. Other research shows that this works better if done while under hypnosis. Other hypnosis techniques can then also be used to reduce the craving for cola and even stop it altogether.

You can, for example, explore the feelings that lead to cola consumption. For example, do you feel guilty as a parent and, as a result, drink cola so that you can still play with your child? Then, during hypnosis, you can find out why you’re struggling with those feelings and how you can deal with the cause of those feelings differently.

In the process, hypnotic suggestions, visualizations and other techniques can help you reduce the craving for Coke so you can live a normal life without panicking once you run out of Coke.

Would you like to learn more about mental techniques, such as hypnosis, to overcome problems and help others? Then check out the courses offered by the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands or come to a workshop.

Also pin this handy infographic:

Sources:

https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-0500-5-692

http://www.hiddenmysteries.org/health/badmed/asparaddict.html