A new study has revealed that one or two servings of sugar sweetened beverages a day can lead to excessive weight gain and a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Study’s lead author Dr. Frank Hu, a nutrition and epidemiology professor at Harvard School of Public Health said “Our findings underscore the urgent need for public health strategies that reduce the consumption of these drinks.
“Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages can lead to weight gain because the liquid calories are not filling, and so people don’t reduce their food intake at subsequent meals.”
The researchers examined data from past studies and found that only one or two servings per day of a sugary beverage, like soda, fruit juice, or the like, could increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 26 per cent and also increase risk of experiencing a heart attack or dying from heart disease by 35 per cent, while also increasing risk of stroke by 16 per cent.
The study which focused on how fructose breaks down in the body can lead to high levels of fat in the bloodstream can increase a person’s risk of heart disease.
Hu added that “Although reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or added sugar alone is unlikely to solve the obesity epidemic entirely, imiting intake is one simple change that will have a measurable impact on weight control and prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases.”