We all know that sodas aren't health boosters, but they affect the body in more ways than you might realize.
Your lungs
Research from the University of Adelaide has shown a link between soft drink consumption and asthma. The study of more than 16,000 people found that those who consumed more than 500ml of soft drinks per day were significantly more likely to have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although it is not known why, the authors theorize that the high sugar content in soft drinks may make the airways more vulnerable to allergic inflammation, or that the preservatives may trigger an allergic reaction.
Dine led
Women who consume soda most days have a 75 percent higher risk of gout, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (there's a similarly increased association for men, too). “Soft drinks are full of fructose, which needs to be converted into glucose,” says nutritionist Emma Jamieson. “During this process, uric acid is formed. Too much uric acid in the body produces crystals that deposit in the joints and cause damage and inflammation.”
Your pancreas
Drinking two or more soft drinks a week can almost double the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, according to a study from the University of Minnesota in the US, which followed more than 60,000 people for 14 years. “The pancreas helps us control blood sugar levels by secreting insulin,” says Jamieson. “Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels, but also encourages the cells of the pancreas to grow and divide. The study suggests that by increasing insulin, soft drinks may also increase the risk of developing cancer. Interestingly, those who drank fruit juice, who also had high blood pressure, sugar levels, did not have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
Your heart
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Circulation, people who drink an average can of soda every day for 20 years have a 20 percent higher risk of heart attack than those who rarely consume sugary drinks. “The sugar load and resulting weight gain increases the risk of heart disease,” says Jamieson. "The effects on insulin levels, cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation are also culprits." As a guideline, a can of regular soft drink contains approximately 41 grams of sugar.
Your metabolism
People who regularly drink one or two cans of soda per day have a 26 percent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who rarely consume them, according to a study in the journal Diabetes Care. And the diet versions of soft drinks aren't much better for you; Artificially sweetened drinks can change your metabolism, according to research from Purdue University in the US. “When you consume sweeteners, your body expects sugar, but when it doesn't come, your body signals it needs more sugar, leading to carb cravings,” says Jamieson. “This leads to weight gain and insulin resistance.”
Your bones
Women who consume three or more cola-based drinks per day have almost 4 percent lower bone density than those who drink non-cola drinks, increasing their risk of osteoporosis, according to Tufts University in the US. “This is really important when you're talking about skeletal density,” said Tufts senior investigator and lead author of the study, Katherine Tucker. The phosphoric acid in cola can leach calcium from bones, while "caffeine is known to be associated with the risk of lower bone mineral density," Tucker added.
48%: The percentage of Australians who drink at least one soft drink per week, according to recent research by Roy Morgan. This figure has fallen from 59% in 2007.
bodyandsoul.com.au
