A disturbing new study published in Nature Medicine has uncovered the devastating toll of sugar-sweetened beverages. The research found they were linked to 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million cases of heart disease in 2020 alone.
Researchers analyzed sugary drink consumption across 184 countries, comparing data from 1990 to 2020. What they found paints a troubling picture of who's most affected…Men consume more than women.Younger adults drink more than older adults.City dwellers outpace rural residents.Those with higher education levels surprisingly drink more.But why are these drinks so dangerous? Well, it comes down to how our bodies process liquid sugar.
When you drink a sugary beverage…The calories are absorbedYou feel less satisfied than if you'd eaten solid food.Your body struggles to regulate blood sugar.Fat begins accumulating in yourYour cardiovascular system takes a hit.However, the impact isn't felt equally across the globe. And there's a reason for that—beverage manufacturers (Big Soda) actively target specific regions with aggressive marketing campaigns and fight against health-protective legislation.
Think about it for a moment… these aren't just numbers. Each case represents a real person whose life has been forever changed by something seemingly innocent, such as a daily soft drink habit.
The good news is that the solution isn't complicated, and you CAN avoid the same fate as those millions of other folks…Switch to water or unsweetened beverages.Read labels carefully—added sugars are hidden in many drinks.Keep in mind that "natural" juices can be just as sugary, so limit them.Know that diet sodas aren't the answer (click here for more on why)Remember, every time you reach for a drink, you're making a choice about your health. Make it count.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. The TRUTH about “natural” sugars revealed!
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SOURCE:
Cudhea, F., Miller, V., Shi, P., Zhang, J., Sharib, J. R., Cash, S. B., Barquera, S., Micha, R., & Mozaffarian, D. (2025). Burdens of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages in 184 countries. Nature Medicine, 1-13. |
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