Why Consuming Too Much Of Soft Drinks Is Bad For Health? Expert Shares Consequences

Do you know the negative health consequences of consuming too many soft drinks? All these colorful drinks often contain a lot of added sugar, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and oral health problems including cavities and tooth rot when consumed in excess. There's also a higher chance of cardiovascular problems because of the high sugar level.

Also, soft drinks can replace better drinks and often lack vital nutrients, which can result in nutritional deficiencies. When consumed in excess, the phosphoric acid and caffeine present in many sodas can harm renal function and weaken bones.

Why Consuming Too Much Of Soft Drinks Is Bad For Health? (Image Credit: Canva)

Dr. Kamalesh A, who is a consultant physician at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, told Jagran English about whether consuming too much soft drink is bad for health or not.

The Health Effects of Consuming Too Much of Soft Drinks:

According to Dr. Kamalesh, "Besides offering essentially no vital nutrients, sugar-sweetened drinks, including soda, can lead to health complications like weight gain, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes. This applies to not only sugary soda but also to fruit juices, highly sweetened coffees, and other sources of liquid sugar."

Also Read: What Is Tuberculosis? What Are Its Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

There are a number of reasons, the prime reason being the form of added sugar, sucrose, or table sugar, which supplies large amounts of the simple sugar fructose. Fructose does not lower the hunger hormone ghrelin or stimulate fullness in the same way as glucose. In one study, people who drank sugary soda in addition to their current diet consumed 17% more calories than before.

Secondly, large amounts of sugar are turned into fat in your liver. Table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup contain glucose and fructose in roughly equal amounts. Glucose can be metabolized by every cell in your body, whereas fructose can only be metabolized by one organ, your liver, which becomes overloaded and turns the fructose into fat.

Third, high consumption of fructose makes you accumulate belly fat, a dangerous type of fat linked to metabolic disease.

For example, sugary soda may cause insulin resistance. The hormone insulin drives glucose from your bloodstream into your cells. Insulin resistance is arguably the main driver behind metabolic syndrome—a stepping stone towards type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Animal studies demonstrate that excess fructose causes insulin resistance and chronically elevated insulin levels.

Fifth, sugary soda contains no essential nutrients.

Why Consuming Too Much Of Soft Drinks Is Bad For Health? (Image Credit: Canva)

Sixth, soft drinks cause leptin resistance. Leptin levels change in response to both starvation and obesity, so it’s often called the fullness or starvation hormone. Leptin resistance is now believed to be among the leading drivers of fat gain in humans.

Also Read: 5 Breathtaking Hill Stations To Visit And Celebrate New Year

At last, Dr. Kamalesh said, "There are a number of other reasons, like the addictive properties of soft drinks and their potential to cause cancer, an increase in the risk of heart disease,poor dental effects, dementia, the risk of gout, etc. The bottom line is to avoid soft drinks to the maximum possible to avoid their health risks."