Just Two Cans of This a Week Puts You at Risk

Just Two Cans of This a Week Puts You at Risk

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Sugar

Just 24oz of this beverage a week can set you up for major health problems.

A new study shows that just two cans of soda or sugary drinks a week are enough to increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Just one can a week can raise blood pressure.

In fact, one 12oz can of Coca-Cola contains a whopping 39 grams of sugar—14 grams over the recommended daily amount of sugar!

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends, “no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day for women and 9 teaspoons (38 grams) for men. The AHA limits for children vary depending on their age and caloric needs, but range between 3-6 teaspoons (12 – 25 grams) per day.”

A study published by the Journal of the Endocrine Society analyzed 36 different studies of individuals who drank more than 5 sugary beverages a week, along with studies on the risk factors of soda consumption from over the past decade.

According to the study, consuming soft drinks on a regular basis can affect insulin levels, ultimately contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

The Mayo Clinic defines metabolic syndrome as, “A cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.”

The Center for Disease Control reports half of American adults consume over 145 calories from soft drinks every day.

Also in the study, individuals consuming sugary beverages for 10 weeks displayed a 17 percent decrease in insulin sensitivity.

The UN warned six years ago that chronic diseases pose a greater health risk than infectious diseases—and metabolic syndrome and diabetes causes 19 million deaths a year globally.

The study’s co-author, Professor M. Faadiel Essop of Stellenbosch University in South Africa, says, “The increased prevalence of cardiometabolic disorders is strongly linked to greater urbanization and the adoption of detrimental lifestyle choices that include sedentary behavior, smoking and poor dietary preferences.”

He adds, “For example, excess sugar consumption has surfaced as one of the most prominent global dietary changes during the past few decades and is considered a primary driver of cardiometabolic diseases onset.”

“The findings demonstrate there is a clear need for public education about the harmful effects of excess consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages,” Essop concludes.

Before the 1950s, the average soda was sold in 6.5-ounce bottles. Now they come in 20-ounce bottles.

In 1970, soda made up 4% of the average American’s caloric intake. Today it is up to 9%.

The good news is, in light of the many studies on the harmful effects of sugar, soda consumption seems to be declining.