When you reach for a soda, do you ever stop to think about what sort of an effect it could have on your long-term health? Sodas and other sugary drinks—such as sports and energy drinks, fruity drinks with less than 100% juice, flavored waters, and sweetened teas—are widely available around the world. But is it possible that your consumption of these drinks is shortening your life, and bringing on chronic disease? In fact, new research suggests that more than 180,000 people around the world die each year from diseases related to sugary drinks.
Within the DNA molecules of the human body are protective units called telomeres, which gradually shorten as a person ages. Often seen as an indicator of lifespan, the shortening of telomeres also seems to be linked with the development of chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, and some kinds of cancer. A recent study has associated drinking a 20 oz. soda daily with the equivalent of 4.6 years of telomere shortening. Ironically, this was similar to the effect of smoking, or the lack of exercise.
Let’s put that in more every day terms. What you eat or drink, as well as whether or not you exercise may have a strong influence on how quickly the cells in your body age. If you exercise but drink lots of soda, you have gained no real advantage in this area over someone who drinks no soda, but does not exercise. You are causing yourself to work harder for less benefit then if you simply put aside sodas altogether and continued to exercise.
Globally it is estimated that around 180,000 people die every year from health problems brought on by consumption of sodas and other sugary drinks, due to diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Within the United States alone, an estimated 25,000 people died in 2010 due to these beverages.
Even if you will not ultimately be one of those who will die of diabetes, heart disease, or cancer because of sugary-drinks, to continue to drink them taxes the immune system, and ages the body. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sugar-sweetened beverages to 450 calories (36 oz.) or less per week. Perhaps it is time to seriously cut back on or give up these drinks altogether and drink more water instead, since, after all, water has no negative side effects, and many benefits.
In health and in sickness, pure water is one of Heaven’s choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage, which God provided to quench the thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system, and assists nature to resist disease. {CD 419.1} MH 237
Nature knows best!
Source References
- Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study [1]
- 180,000 deaths worldwide each year may be associated with sugary soft drinks, research suggests [2]