when you pick up fast food for dinner or enjoy a big bowl of popcorn while watching a movie, you can also have a soft drink. While there’s no doubt that fabulous fizzy drinks are a popular choice, there are also quite a few soda facts which you will probably find disturbing. That includes the results of a recent study that found soda can increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
During the study that was presented at ENDO 2022, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, for health line, the researchers analyzed data from 2017 and 2018 that were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data from 3,292 participants showed that 70% of Mexican Americans who participated in the study and had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease also had diets that contained a high amount of fructose. On the other hand, those who ate less fructose were less likely to have the same liver-related problem. This led the researchers to note that high-fructose corn syrup, found in soft drinks, may increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Dr. Hillel Tobiassaid the director of hepatology at Concorde Medical Group in New York, associated with Lenox Hill Hospital. health line“The Endocrine Society presentation found a direct relationship across all segments of the population between the degree of high fructose intake and the incidence of fatty liver disease.”
“A review of the deleterious effect of high-fructose corn syrup on the development of fatty liver disease presented at the Endocrine Society meeting confirms the importance of controlling intake of this harmful ingredient found in most soft drinks and candy,” said Dr. Tobias.
In fact, “a 12-ounce can of Coke contains 39 grams of sugar—that’s like eating 10 teaspoons of sugar, providing you with empty calories that are completely devoid of nutrients.” Alyssa Wilson, RD Y Health Signs nutritionist, account Eat this, not that! “Since this comes in a liquid form, drinking soda provides a rapid shock of glucose into the bloodstream. This promotes a spike in blood sugar that can lead to those classic symptoms of being on a blood sugar roller coaster: crash, irritability, hunger and sugar cravings, to name a few”.
Beyond that, Wilson explains that regularly drinking soft drinks, “especially those containing high-fructose corn syrup, is linked to an increase in chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease,” as well as with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Wilson also points out that “when it comes to diet soda, the Artificial sweeteners they’re not much better, as some studies suggest they’re associated with impaired glucose metabolism, increased calorie intake and weight gain.”
For better drink options that will still satisfy your soda craving, be sure to read 11 Best Sugar-Free Sodas on Grocery Store Shelves.
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Desiree O
Desirée O is a freelance writer who covers lifestyle, food and nutrition news, among other topics. read more
