May 8, 2023
Dangers of Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks are a leading source of added sugars in many peoples’ diets. Frequent consumption of sugary drinks, such as soda, juices, sweetened tea, and energy drinks, are associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay, cavities, and gout. Sugar-sweetened beverages or sugary drinks are any liquid sweetened with various forms of added sugar, such as brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, or sucrose. Most often, sugary drinks are sweetened with sucrose, raw sugar, and high-fructose corn syrup. Limiting the intake of sugary drinks can aid in maintaining a healthy weight and healthy dietary patterns.
Drinking sugar-sweetened drinks does not lower the hunger hormone (ghrelin) or stimulate fullness in the same way as food or water. Drinking liquids sweetened with sugar does not make you feel full, but it does add to your caloric intake. Sugary drinks, especially sodas, have no essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, or fiber) which means that they add nothing to your dietary experience except excessive amounts of added sugar and unnecessary calories. Consistently, those who drink sugary drinks gain more weight than those who don’t. In children, drinking sugary drinks results in a 60% higher risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Excessive amounts of sugar can accumulate in the liver, turning the chemical into fat in large part while some of it remains in the liver, contributing to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Sugary drinks also contribute to insulin resistance, which in the long term can result in type 2 diabetes. Over time, your cells may become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, which makes your pancreas produce even more insulin to remove the glucose from your bloodstream. Not only can this contribute to type 2 diabetes, but heart disease as well. Sugary drinks increase the risk for high blood sugar and dense LDL particles. Insulin is not the only chemical that sugar can create resistance in. Leptin, a hormone that is responsible for regulating the number of calories burned, can also become resistant to sugar consumption.
Diet drinks also pose risks. Drinking diet or sugar-free sodas or beverages do not help you avoid all the problems caused by regular soft drinks. Diet drinks are highly acidic and sugar substitutes can be dangerous, as they can alter gut health and cardiovascular issues while increasing a craving for sweets.
Sugar can be addictive. Drinking high amounts of sugary drinks can have various adverse impacts to your health including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, metabolic issues, dehydration, and obesity. Having discipline and drinking healthy alternatives are important to improving your overall health. The best alternative is always water.
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