Immediately stop drinking beverages directly from cans — here’s why - The Indian Express

Do you love sipping on cans of cold drinks, energy drinks, or sodas? Well, stop! Drinking directly from cans — which can be a storehouse of germs and infections — can lead to a lot of health troubles. This is because the cans are rarely washed before being served to you to drink directly from them.

Explaining how they might be contaminated, nutritionist Simrun Chopra took to Instagram and shared, “Cans are stored in warehouses and are rarely washed or cleaned before being served to you. During storage they may have rats running over them, covering some of them in urine or faeces. Ingesting this by mistake can cause leptospirosis”.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leptospirosis — which is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira — can affect both animals and humans. “In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases,” it added, further stating that in some infected people may show no symptoms.

Sharing some symptoms of leptospirosis, Chopra added, “Mild symptoms include headaches, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or there might be severe issues resulting in kidney or liver damage, respiratory diseases, or more,” further advising to wash the can, or wipe it clean with a wet cloth, or use a straw instead.

Speaking with indianexpress.com, Dr Ather Pasha, Senior consultant Internal Medicine, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad said that directly drinking from a can of soft drink can pose health risks due to contamination, chemicals, and sharp edges. “It’s better to use a glass or a straw instead to avoid these risks,” added Dr Pasha.

Harmful effects of drinking directly from a can

Below are harmful effects of drinking directly from a can, as shared by Dr Pasha:

1. Contamination: The top of the can may have come in contact with germs, bacteria, and dirt during transportation, storage, or handling. Drinking directly from the can can transfer these harmful substances into your body, leading to infections or illnesses.

Use a straw instead of drinking directly from the can. (Pic source: Freepik)

2. Chemicals: The lining of the can may contain chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach into the drink and pose health risks. BPA can disrupt hormones and cause various health problems.

3. Cutting your lips: The edge of the can be sharp and may cut your lips or mouth, leading to bleeding or infections.

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