More Bad News for Sugary Drinks

Diabetes is on the rise.  It has been said that 1 in 3 adults, and nearly 1 in 2 men already have prediabetes.  What has been contributing to this is that two thirds of adults and one third of children are overweight or obese.  Plus, we've become a nation that is very sedentary.  

The problem is that with diabetes come many complications.  To name a few are increases in the risk of memory loss, heart attack, kidney disease, amputations, and many more.  The good news is that we have been getting better at preventing these complications.  However, it's important to know that even when one is diagnosed with prediabetes that some of these complications can already begin to wreak havoc.  For example, those with prediabetes have a 20% increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with normal blood sugar.  Unfortunately, doctors do not seem to raise an eyebrow when their patient has prediabetes.

Something that contributes to this problem are sugary drinks.  The Harvard School of Public Health states, "The data are pretty compelling that we should basically cut out sugar-sweetened beverages."  Sugary drinks include the following: soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, and sweetened teas.  Because these types of drinks contain so much sugar it is leading people to gain weight from fat.  Not to mention that those who drink just one sugary soft drink per day had a 30% higher risk of diabetes than those who drank one less than once a month.  Plus, it does not matter what sugary drink is consumed - soda or fruit juice, a high consumption of either may lead to weight gain and put a major stress on the pancreas. Studies are pointing to the high level of fructose (table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, honey, and agave) in these drinks, but more research needs to be conducted.

In the meantime, try to decrease or ideally omit sugary drinks to help with weight, as well as prevent diabetes.

Reference:  Nutrition Action, July/August 2014, Tip Of The Iceberg, Most People With Prediabetes Don't Know It, p. 4.