Is Loving Soda Really That Bad For Us?

What’s your take on soda or aerated drinks? Do you love them, like them, or hate them? Personally, I don't have any strong feelings towards them. I enjoy them occasionally, but not enough to share my Netflix password over them. Plus, the numerous articles I encounter about how harmful they are to my health have effectively discouraged me from taking our relationship to the next level. But if you’re someone who truly loves fizzy drinks and just guzzles them down bottle after bottle, you might want to sit down and read further.

We all know that sugar, when consumed in excess, takes a toll on our health. But did you know that some sources of sugar are worse than others? Surprise, surprise—sugary drinks are by far the worst offenders. This category includes everything from sugary sodas to highly sweetened coffees, fruit juices, and other forms of liquid sugar like corn syrup.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine reveals a sobering truth: consuming these beverages daily increases a person's risk of premature death by 17% compared to those who consume them once a month. Another study that tracked 118,000 men and women over 30 years found that a 340 gm serving of sugary drinks daily not only raised the risk of death by 7% but also increased the risk of cancer by 5% and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 10%.

Other ingredients also play a role, such as the carbonated water in soft drinks, which increases the levels of ghrelin—the hunger hormone—in our body, ultimately leading to weight gain.

The Bottom Line: Any type of sugary drink leads to weight gain, and anything that leads to weight gain increases your chances of developing heart conditions, type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. So, if you want to shed some kilos, avoid chronic health conditions, and live longer, think twice before reaching for that can of soda after dinner.