Pepsi: The New Healthy?

Pepsi has recently distributed a new soda to the population of Japan. “Pepsi Special” is claimed to be a fat-blocker as it contains dextrin, a dietary fiber found in many fiber supplements.

Pepsi researchers claim that Pepsi Special suppresses fat absorption because of the key ingredient: dextrin. Foods enriched with fiber such as dextrin, are known to lower cholesterol, regulate digestion, and lower the risk of heart disease, as well.

These supposed health benefits have led Japan to give the beverage the “FOSHU” label which classifies the drink as a “Food for Special Health Uses”. The drink has yet to debut in the United States.

According to studies done on the effects of the Pepsi Special, short term side effects are stomach pain and bloating. Long term effects have yet to be studied. Studies done on the effects of dextrin, alone, have concluded that the nutrient can be harmful if consumed in large quantities.

It has been suggested that the creation of such a beverage as Pepsi Special can potentially lead to further health problems whether in Japan, or, if debuted in the States, here. Adding a “good” ingredient to an unhealthy food encourages people to consume a product that, overall, isn’t healthy for them.

The obesity rate in the United States is among the highest in the world. For a proposed “healthy Pepsi” to debut, could potentially lead to an increase in that statistic. If people believe that consuming a soda of any kind is good for them, they are sorely mistaken.

Studies have shown that sodas and other sugar-filled beverages contribute to health problems such as obesity and diabetes, whether or not they contain dextrin.

The United States has yet to open its doors to such a drink, and, for good reason, may not ever.