(NewsNation) — You might want to think twice before adding sugary drinks and sodas to your grocery cart.
For years, researchers have known that indulgent beverages are high in calories and can lead to diseases such as diabetes, but a new study reveals they could also be causing an uptick in early deaths.
A research paper in “Nature Medicine” looked at data from 184 countries and found that in 2020 alone, 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease were linked to drinks high in sugar.
The researchers also reported 340,000 deaths worldwide that same year associated with the same diseases.
Sugary drinks include any beverages with added sugar and at least 50 calories per 8-ounce serving, such as regular sodas, fruity drinks, energy drinks, coffee and lemonade.
An average can of Coca-Cola or Pepsi is 12 ounces with about 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar.
That’s about 10 teaspoons of sugar. The World Health Organization recommends consuming no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day.
As another example, the average Gatorade is 16 ounces with 127 calories and 26 grams of sugar.
Researchers found that in many regions, young men with higher levels of education in urban areas are most likely to seek treatment for the diseases associated with sugary drinks.
Medical experts explain that liquid sugar is quickly absorbed, causing rapid spikes in blood glucose and bombarding one’s body with insulin surges. This can lead to inflammation, high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure — all major contributors to diabetes and heart problems.
Doctors recommend limiting the consumption of these drinks to one a week.
