Soft drinks linked to diabetes in people that have a healthy weight

26/8/2015

Sugary Drinks Supermarket ShelfSoft drinks or soda drinks and sugary fruit drinks have been pointed out as one of the main culprits in the onset of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. It is now well accepted that these highly processed simple carbohydrate drinks impact on the metabolic system, they cause considerable weight gain in relatively short periods of time, and ultimately for many people these types of drinks contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes.

A new study published on the 21/7/2015 in BMJ highlights that new research released from Cambridge university shows that people who drink these sugary drinks are at more risk of  of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes regardless of whether they are healthy or unhealthy. Researchers said the the the consumption of sugary soft drinks, sodas or juices is correlated with an additional 2 million diabetes cases in the US over the last 10 years.

This new study now shows that sugary drinks are associated with an increased risk of diabetes even in people with a healthy BMI.

According to this study everyone is vulnerable!

Findings in the EPIC-NOrfolk suggest that eliminating even one sugary drink by replacing it with an un-sweated drink like water, tea or coffee can potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The same study also points out that artificially sweetened drinks are most likely not the best choice for long term health.

“These findings together indicate that substituting sugar sweetened drinks with artificially sweetened drinks or fruit juice is unlikely to be the best strategy in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Fumiaki Imamura, lead author of the study, “water or other unsweetened beverages are better options.”

Click here to view the Cambridge University news page with this story.

Click here to view the BMJ study abstract.