A can of soda may seem harmless, but in just one hour, it sets off a chain reaction inside your body. From a sugar rush to an insulin spike, here’s what really happens after you crack open that can.
First 10 Minutes – Sugar Flood
One can of soda delivers about 10 teaspoons of sugar, more than the daily recommended limit. Normally, your body would reject this overload and trigger vomiting, but the added phosphoric acid in soda cuts the sweetness just enough to let it slide down.
20 Minutes – Blood Sugar Spike
Your blood sugar shoots up quickly. In response, your pancreas releases a surge of insulin, the hormone that clears sugar out of the blood. Most of that sugar gets stored as fat.
30 Minutes – Dopamine Hit
Soda is designed to light up your brain’s reward pathway. The sudden release of dopamine feels a lot like a mini “high,” which is why soda can be addictive in the same way junk food or even drugs can be.
40 Minutes – Caffeine Effect
If your soda has caffeine, it’s fully absorbed by now. Caffeine blocks adenosine, the chemical that makes you feel tired, and gives you a temporary boost of alertness and focus.