Here’s One More Good Reason to Step Away From Those Sugar-Laden Drinks
What are you drinking right now?
If it’s a sweetened drink, you may want to think twice before you take another sip.
A new report presented to the American Heart Association reveals that people who drink 24 ounces or more of a sugary beverage every day have twice the risk of dying from coronary heart disease than people who drink less than an ounce per day.
In fact, researchers say, there’s a higher risk that they’ll die of all causes, including other cardiovascular issues.
But here’s an interesting twist: The study, which focused on adults older than 45, didn’t find the same link between sugary foods and an increased risk of death.
Researchers say sweet drinks contain few to no nutrients, inundating the body with sugars that need to be metabolized. Sugary food, on the other hand, often also contains fat or proteins that make it easier for the body to process an influx of sugar.
This certainly isn’t the first study to link soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages to health problems. It’s also been associated with depression, diabetes, gout, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity.
Step Away From the Soda
Cutting back on sugary drinks or giving them up all together doesn’t mean a life sentence of boring tap water or dehydration.
- Get yourself a Sodastream and enjoy all the fizz of your favorite soft drink with with none of the sugar.
- Iced or hot, green tea is a great alternative to sweet drinks.
- If it’s the caffeine buzz you’re after, try this DIY Starbucks drink right in your kitchen (just omit the sugar).
- Blended fruits and vegetables are a good way to kick the sugar habit and get some extra nutrition at the same time.
It can be hard to give up soda if everyone around you is guzzling it. Instead of giving in to temptation, follow them around and collect the empty cans to make a few bucks.
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She drinks unsweet tea while she writes. Hold the lemon, thanks.
