HEALTH
that's disgusting
dude. gross.
You opened that bottle of Dr. Pepper a week ago and crammed it into the back of the fridge. Now you're desperate for a caffeine fix, but aren't sure if chugging it down is a good idea.
Turns out it's not really bad for you just super gross.
Any bacteria that could grow in a previously opened drink probably won't make you sick, says Susan Egan, professor of molecular biosciences. After a while though, bacteria would use up the sugar in the drink and secrete their byproducts into it, making it taste bad.
For most beverages, it will take more than a day for bacteria to grow. The amount of creepy crawlers in your drink also depends on its temperature. Keeping the drink refrigerated will keep fewer germs from developing.
Clear liquids, such as water or lemonade, will take longer to grow bacteria because they have less to feed on. Egan says. Carbonated drinks, such as sodas, will also take a while to grow bacteria. The high acidity levels naturally sterilize those drinks, making it more difficult for bacteria to grow. But watch out before taking a swig of week-old super sugary drinks such as punch and certain juices. They can grow bacteria more quickly.
DRINKING PREVIOUSLY OPENED BEVERAGES
Drinking a sip of your own day-old Vitamin Water probably won't harm you, but definitely avoid your buddy's old Pepsi. Germs growing on the top of the bottle are an easy way to transfer a bacterial disease or flu virus, Egan says.
If you accidentally take a swig of the water you left sitting by your bed three nights ago, the nasty taste might make you gag like a cat hacking up a hairball, but chill out. It's probably just dust.
Photo illustration by Kirsten Hudson
Take a swirl of these gems: Drinking opened beverages from the fridge can be disgusting.
// KIRSTEN HUDSON
good for you/bad for you //
sometimes it's hard to tell.
Books? Check. Highlighter? Check. iPod? Check. You're ready to study, right? Wrong. You might want to ditch the iPod — that latest Beyoncé song pulsing in your ears may be doing more harm to your studying than you think.
Listening to music while studying can distract you, which will make it more difficult to remember the material you're reading come exam time, says Paul Archely, associate professor of psychology. If you turn on a little Dave Matthews Band to drown out other
Photo illustration by Kirsten Hudson Background distraction: You may think listening to music while studying helps you focus, but odds are it actually distracts.
LISTENING TO MUSIC WHILE STUDYING
distractions, such as your roommates jabbering, listening to music might be beneficial. "But if you're studying in a quiet place, listening to music probably can only hurt," Atchley says.
The volume of the music also affects how well you input those Spanish verb tenses or names of U.S. presidents into your memory. If the volume's so loud that a full-blown concert is going on in your ear drums, it's going to be harder to concentrate than if it's just background noise.
If you can't study without the music, it's best to just turn on what you usually listen to. "If you really enjoy country western, that would be less distracting than punk. Whatever music will capture your attention the most is the worst you can play." Archley says.
During your next study session try nixing the iPod. Don't worry; it'll be there when you get back.
VERDICT: BAD FOR YOU
09
24
09
12
// KIRSTEN HUDSON