Sugary drinks can cause multiple health complications, including weight gain, obesity and diabetes, experts say.
While drinking sugary drinks such as soda, fruit punch and lemonade at home or outdoors is fairly common, they can cause significant health damage, from tooth and kidney infections to heart disease, experts said Monday. Sugary drinks are beverages that contain added sugar or other sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), sucrose or fruit juice concentrates. They include non-diet sodas, flavored juices, sports or energy drinks, sweetened tea and coffee, and more.
Health risks of sugary drinks
“These sweeteners are a major problem that can cause multiple health complications such as weight gain, obesity and diabetes. Moreover, they also have a long-lasting impact on the heart and kidneys and also lead to dental complications,” Dr Manish Mittal, consultant physician at Bhailal Amin General Hospital in Vadodara, told IANS. Additives such as fructose, high-fructose corn and jaggery “increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart diseases,” said Dr Narendra Singhla, senior consultant, internal medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi.
“Consuming large amounts of added sugars can lead to weight gain, inflammation and insulin resistance. To prevent these risks, opt for sugar-free beverages and limit sugary drink intake to less than 10 percent of daily caloric needs,” she added. A recent study by researchers at Harvard University in the United States showed that high consumption of sugary drinks can also increase the incidence and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially among people with diabetes.
The study, published in BMJ, showed that each additional daily serving of sugary drinks was associated with an 8 per cent increase in all-cause mortality. “Long-term consumption of these sugary drinks can also affect cardiovascular health. People with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension will be more affected if they consume these drinks on a daily basis. If a person already has diabetes and yet is using these sweeteners, diabetes will naturally spiral out of control and they will be at double risk,” Mittal said.
“Even consuming sugar-free supplements is equally harmful and has the same side effects, apart from affecting gut health,” the doctor said. Singhla suggested choosing natural sources of sweetness, such as fruits and vegetables, and being “aware of hidden sugars in processed foods.” The experts also urged adopting a balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity to improve health.
