Milly Gaines
Mountain Dew is a popular soft drink, but is it a good choice if you're on a diet? The short answer is no. Mountain Dew has been linked to a number of health issues, including tooth decay, hormone disruption, and weight gain. It's also packed with sugar, artificial sweeteners, and calories, which can lead to blood sugar problems and conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The drink also contains artificial colours, preservatives, and other chemicals that have been linked to serious health issues, including neurologic disease and cancer. While the diet version of Mountain Dew may seem like a healthier alternative, it still contains aspartame and other artificial ingredients, and it may increase cravings for sweet, unhealthy foods. So, if you're looking to improve your health or lose weight, it's best to avoid Mountain Dew and opt for healthier beverage choices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories | 170 calories in a 12-ounce serving |
| Sugar | 46 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce serving |
| Nutritional value | No nutritional value |
| Sweeteners | Contains aspartame |
| Colour | Contains Yellow 5 dye |
| Health risks | Linked to tooth decay, hormone disruption, infertility, miscarriage, polycystic ovary, reproductive cancers, obesity, blood sugar problems, heart disease, diabetes |
| Other ingredients | Potassium, sodium benzoate, soybean oil, corn oil, genetically modified high fructose corn syrup |
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What You'll Learn
- Mountain Dew contains artificial sweeteners, which may cause people to crave sweeter foods
- The drink contains Yellow 5 dye, which can cause zinc levels in the body to drop
- Mountain Dew has been linked to blood sugar issues and diabetes
- The BPA toxin in the drink has been linked to obesity
- Brominated vegetable oil, an ingredient in Mountain Dew, is also used in flame retardants
Mountain Dew contains artificial sweeteners, which may cause people to crave sweeter foods
Mountain Dew is a popular caffeinated soft drink that contains 170 calories and 46 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving. The sugar-free and zero-calorie diet version of Mountain Dew may seem like a healthier alternative, but it is loaded with artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colouring, and other additives that can have negative effects on your health and diet.
Mountain Dew contains artificial sweeteners, specifically aspartame, which is approved by the FDA. While these sweeteners reduce the high calories that come with sugar, they may cause people to crave sweeter, less nutritious foods without associating sweetness with calories. This can lead to increased consumption of unhealthy foods and disrupt your diet.
In addition to artificial sweeteners, Mountain Dew also contains artificial colouring, specifically Yellow 5, which gives it its iconic neon greenish-yellow colour. This colouring is considered unnecessary and potentially dangerous, as it has been linked to hyperactivity in healthy children and carries allergy and cancer risks.
The drink also contains other additives such as brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is used as an emulsifier to prevent flavour separation. BVO has been linked to health concerns, including skin lesions and disruption of thyroid function. Mountain Dew also contains high levels of sugar, which can contribute to tooth decay, weight gain, and health issues such as heart disease, blood sugar problems, and diabetes.
Overall, while the diet version of Mountain Dew may seem like a healthier option, it is important to consider the potential negative effects of its artificial sweeteners and other additives. These ingredients can impact your health and diet in various ways, including cravings for sweeter foods, tooth decay, and increased health risks. Therefore, it is advisable to consume Mountain Dew in moderation or opt for healthier alternatives to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.
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The drink contains Yellow 5 dye, which can cause zinc levels in the body to drop
Mountain Dew is a popular caffeinated carbonated soft drink that contains aspartame, artificial colouring, preservatives, and no minerals, vitamins, or nutritional value. The drink also contains the toxic artificial colour Yellow 5, which gives Mountain Dew its famous yellow colour. Yellow 5 is a synthetic lemon yellow azo dye primarily used as a food colourant.
Yellow 5 is considered an azo compound with the formula C16H9N4Na3O9S2. In addition to carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, which are typically found in natural food dyes, it also includes sodium, oxygen, and sulfur. These are all naturally occurring elements, but Yellow 5 is made from the byproducts of petroleum. The safety of Yellow 5 for the general population of children is still open for debate. Most are unaffected by artificial food colourings, but it does seem to alter the behaviour of some, especially those diagnosed with hyperactivity.
In 1975, Ben Feingold, the chief allergist at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco, proposed that Yellow 5 and other synthetic food dyes could cause hyperactivity in some children. Since then, studies have both supported and rebutted this idea. However, it is important to note that Yellow 5 is always identified on ingredient lists when used in packaged foods, as approximately one in 10,000 people suffer allergic reactions to the chemical.
Research suggests that Yellow 5 may harm cells over time, especially when exposed to greater amounts than the recommended intake. While the FDA and top researchers have concluded that Yellow 5 does not pose an immediate threat to human health, it is still recommended to cut back on sugary, processed foods that may contain this dye.
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Mountain Dew has been linked to blood sugar issues and diabetes
Mountain Dew is a popular caffeinated carbonated soft drink loaded with aspartame, artificial colouring, preservatives, and brominated vegetable oil. It has no mineral or vitamin content and no nutritional value. While it is not a sugar-containing beverage, it contains artificial sweeteners, which may increase insulin resistance and affect blood sugar levels.
Some people have reported that drinking Mountain Dew caused their blood glucose (BG) to increase by 200 in 40 minutes. While this could be due to other factors, such as caffeine or the consumption of other food items, it is worth noting that artificial sweeteners like Splenda can also raise blood sugar levels. Caffeine, in particular, has been linked to increased insulin resistance and cortisol production, which can negatively impact blood sugar control.
Additionally, a 2018 study found that drinking more than four cans of diet soda per week is associated with a more than twofold risk of diabetic eye complications such as diabetic retinopathy. This suggests that while diet soda may not significantly affect blood sugar levels, it may have other negative consequences for people with diabetes or those at risk of developing the condition.
Mountain Dew has also been linked to other health issues, including tooth decay and tooth loss, especially in young people in the Appalachian Mountain region. The drink is highly acidic, and chronic consumption can lead to what has been termed "Mountain Dew mouth." The presence of toxic artificial colours, such as Yellow 5, and preservatives like potassium and sodium benzoate, which can form benzene (a known carcinogen) when combined with vitamin C, further add to the health concerns associated with Mountain Dew consumption.
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The BPA toxin in the drink has been linked to obesity
Mountain Dew is a popular caffeinated carbonated soft drink loaded with aspartame, artificial coloring, preservatives, and other toxic ingredients. It has no mineral or vitamin content and no nutritional value. While it is not explicitly stated that Mountain Dew contains BPA toxins, BPA is one of the most common endocrine disruptors and is widely manufactured daily across the United States. BPA exposure has been linked to obesity, with in vivo trials indicating a high possibility that it interferes with normal homeostasis, leading to weight gain.
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is an industrial chemical commonly used in plastic-based production. It has been established to exhibit both estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects and is considered a representative endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). BPA exposure has been linked to a negative impact on reproductive health, particularly in males, with studies showing a significant correlation between urinary BPA concentration and sperm count per ejaculate in obese men.
The link between BPA and obesity has been supported by in vivo studies, which have found that BPA exposure can affect the lipid profile and genes associated with lipolysis, leading to obesity. These studies also suggest that BPA exposure can cause transgenerational effects, with potential impacts on the offspring of those exposed. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that BPA is safe for consumers within an acceptable range, researchers have raised concerns, particularly about its potential to cause obesity and cardiovascular complications.
The presence of BPA in Mountain Dew, while not confirmed, could be a contributing factor to weight gain for those who consume it regularly. The high levels of sugar and other artificial ingredients in Mountain Dew are also concerning from a dietary perspective, as they can contribute to excess calorie intake and negative health outcomes.
In conclusion, while the direct presence of BPA in Mountain Dew requires further investigation, the link between BPA exposure and obesity is well-established. The potential for BPA toxins in Mountain Dew, combined with its other unhealthy ingredients, underscores the drink's negative impact on dietary and health goals.
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Brominated vegetable oil, an ingredient in Mountain Dew, is also used in flame retardants
Brominated vegetable oil, also known as BVO, is a controversial food additive that was used in Mountain Dew. It is a stabilizer used in citrus-flavoured beverages to prevent the separation of ingredients and the citrus oils from rising to the top of the drink. BVO is created by modifying vegetable oil with bromine, a naturally occurring chemical element.
BVO has been the subject of health concerns and has been compared to brominated flame retardants. Claims circulated online that BVO is a toxic chemical linked to hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, and cancer. It has also been associated with major organ damage and birth defects. As a result, it has been banned in many countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, and California.
In 2012, a Change.org campaign was initiated by Mississippi teenager Sarah Kavanagh, urging PepsiCo to remove BVO from its Gatorade products. In 2014, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. announced they would remove BVO from their soft drinks, including Mountain Dew. However, there were reports that it remained in Mountain Dew until recently.
While experts agree that a direct comparison of BVO to flame retardants is an oversimplification, there are still concerns about its potential health effects. Scientists acknowledge the need for more research to understand its ability to accumulate in the human body, and some people have experienced adverse effects from consuming large amounts of soda containing BVO.
In July 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of BVO in food products, concluding that it is no longer safe for consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mountain Dew is a soft drink with no nutritional value. It contains 170 calories and 46 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving. It has been linked to high rates of tooth decay and tooth loss, especially in young people.
Mountain Dew has been linked to various health issues, including:
- Hormone and fertility disruption due to the BPA lining in the cans.
- Obesity.
- Blood sugar problems, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes.
- Memory loss.
- Skin lesions.
- Thyroid issues.
Mountain Dew contains several ingredients that are potentially harmful to health, including:
- Brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is also found in flame retardants and can cause skin lesions and thyroid issues.
- High levels of sugar, which can contribute to blood sugar problems and weight gain.
- Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which may cause cravings for sweet, less nutritious foods.
- Artificial coloring, including Yellow 5, which can cause hyperactivity in healthy children and carry allergy and cancer risks.
- Potassium and sodium benzoate, preservatives that can form benzene, a known carcinogen, when combined with vitamin C.
Mountain Dew is a popular caffeinated beverage that can provide a temporary energy boost due to its caffeine and sugar content. However, it is essential to consider the potential health risks associated with its consumption.
