Buzz
Soda has long been considered detrimental to health. Beyond contributing to weight gain and other associated health problems, its sugary and acidic properties make it especially damaging to teeth. Now, new evidence suggests even more severe consequences. A recent study in the *Journal of the American Medical Association* shows that drinking two soft drinks a day could increase the risk of death from various health conditions.
The study involved 451,743 healthy participants from 10 European countries, who were part of the extensive European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The data was collected from 1992 to 2000.
Researchers tracked the participants' soft drink consumption and overall mortality over a follow-up period ranging from 11 to 19 years. During this time, 41,693 deaths occurred. Those who drank more than two sugary sodas a day had a higher mortality rate compared to those who consumed fewer than one drink per month. This was despite high-volume drinkers being, on average, two years younger than their low-volume counterparts.
Interestingly, the study revealed that the causes of death varied between individuals who consumed artificially sweetened drinks and those who opted for sugar-sweetened beverages. Drinks containing artificial sweeteners were linked to circulatory diseases such as coronary artery disease, while sugary drinks were associated with digestive issues, including liver and intestinal disorders.
The study’s authors proposed two possible explanations. First, the fructose in sugary beverages may contribute to liver lipogenesis, a precursor to non-alcoholic liver disease. Artificially sweetened drinks could potentially lead to glucose intolerance. Notably, deaths among those who consumed artificially sweetened beverages occurred even in individuals with a healthy body weight. The authors emphasized that the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners are still not well understood.
