You probably don’t need to be told that opting for sugary sodas isn’t the best beverage choice when it comes to your health. can take a toll on your heart healththey can wear on the teethand may even have a negative impact on fertilityamong other issues.
Now, a new study finds that Sugary drinks may increase the risk of dying from colorectal cancer.
In the study, published in TThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, among other institutions, looked at a group of more than 120,000 participants in two prospective cohort studies in the United States. They compared data on colorectal cancer incidence and death from the disease with information on the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) the participants consumed and the amount of fructose in their diet.
Related: The #1 Best Juice to Drink Every Day, Science Says
“SSB and total fructose consumption were associated with increased incidence and mortality of proximal colon cancer, particularly during the later stages of tumorigenesis,” the study authors wrote. “Although they require confirmation in other large cohorts, these observational data support the findings of a recent animal study that suggested a direct role for dietary sugars in colorectal tumorigenesis.”
In other words, consumption of these beverages was linked to a higher chance of developing proximal colon cancer (that is, cancer in the first and middle parts of the colon) and of dying from those cancers, especially when the formation of the tumors is already very advanced. road. While the researchers note that more study is needed over long periods of time, sugary soft drinks do seem to make colorectal cancer tumors worse.
You don’t need to worry as much if you used to drink a lot of soda as a child, but have been drinking it less often in your adult life. The study found that recent SSB use (within the past 10 years) was linked to increased risk in a way that past use was not. Still, if you drink soda every day, you may want to cut back.
“Our results provide further support for current dietary guidelines and policies to limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in order to improve the health of the general population,” the study authors noted.
In addition, colorectal cancer is not the only type of cancer that sugary drinks have been linked to. Previous studies have shown that they are also associated with an increased risk of contracting Liver cancer. Plus, they could leave you in greater danger of pancreatic cancerand may increase the chances that you will get endometrial canceramong other types of cancer.
If you’re looking to cut back on soda and want some healthier options to look for instead, consider these 25 Healthy, Low-Sugar Soda Alternatives.
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Clara Olshansky
Clara Olshansky (they/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and comedian whose web content has been featured in Food & Wine, Harper’s Magazine, Men’s Health, and Reductress. read more
