Sorry about the crudity, but I wanted to get your attention. The more I learn about soft drinks, the worse they seem. Not that I haven’t indulged in them on occasion.
While sugary soft drinks are worse, even diet drinks suck. Research has linked all sodas to an increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. and diabetes, as well as metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of the above. Colas – the most common type of soda – in particular are also associated with lower bone mineral density in women, which can lead to osteoporosis.
But sugary sodas are definitely the main concern. Among US adults, sodas, energy and sports drinks are the 4th highest source of calories, averaging 112 per day, and are the highest source of added sugars, while providing no essential nutrients. As American’s consumption of added sugars has risen for the last 30 years, so have our waistlines and Body Mass Indexes. Sugary sodas are also associated with increased incidence of pancreatic cancer, gout, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
So lets sum up the current findings on soft drinks into 2 categories:
What sucks about soft drinks What doesn’t suck about soft drinks
Obesity Hydration
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Metabolic Syndrome
Low bone density
Pancreatic cancer
Gout
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Zero essential nutrients
I rest my case, and I’m cutting back even more my already meager consumption of soft drinks. They really do suck, big time!
Tags: bad habits, healthy eating, healthy habits