Drinking sugary sodas has been on a decline over the past several years, and a lot of that is probably due to so many people finally realizing the harmful effects that they can cause. The amount of sugar and artificial sweeteners in popular soda brands is outrageous, and they’re causing many longlasting issues for consumers. But not everyone is ready to give up all of their refreshing bubbly drinks, so they’re turning to other alternatives.
We’re now seeing a lot of popular brands marketing their products as having zero calories or zero sweeteners. Sounds amazing, right? Those that are health conscious feel like they’ve hit the jackpot, and they can enjoy bubbly refreshments again. Hate to burst your bubble (no pun intended), but some of these popular emerging brands also come with consequences! Many are contaminated with chemicals known as PFAS that last forever in your body.
PFAS, per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are man made chemicals that are used in lots of common household products ranging from non-stick cookware to water resistant clothing. We call them forever chemicals because they don’t break down over time.
These man-made chemicals have been used for decades, and the chemicals have seeped into our soil, air, and even our water. Many of the popular sparkling water brands out there may claim that they have zero calories and zero sweeteners, but they’re not letting you know that the source of the water they’re using in their products contains these PFAS.
Since PFAS don’t break down over time, that means that the chemicals just stay in your body. If you’re consuming sparkling water all the time, then you’re just adding more and more of these chemicals into your body.
Studies show that PFAS in humans is linked to thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and even poses a threat to unborn children growing in the womb.
Below is a list of the sparkling waters that contained PFAS over 1 PPT (part per trillion). None of the brands on the list contain more than what the EPA allows, however the consumption of sparkling waters has drastically increased over recent years. It’s important to know the effects of what the PFAS can do in your body, especially when they will stay there for the rest of your life.
The majority of sparkling waters contain traces of PFAS. If you don’t want these “forever” chemicals in your body then it may be best to simply avoid them. The more you know about the effects of these harmful chemicals, the more educated you’ll be, and you can potentially lower your chances of feeling the risky effects of putting these things in your body.