You might also have a soft drink when you grab a quick snack at dinner or enjoy a big bowl of popcorn at the movies. While there’s no doubt that the incredibly fizzy drink is a popular choice, there are plenty of facts about soda that you might find disturbing. This includes findings from a recent study that found soft drinks increased the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
During research presented at ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Society annual meeting, according to Healthline, the researchers looked at 2017 and 2018 data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Information from 3,292 participants showed that 70 percent of the Mexican-Americans who participated in the study and had NAFLD had a diet high in fructose. On the other hand, those who consumed less fructose were less likely to have the same liver-related problems. This led researchers to note that high fructose corn syrup, found in soft drinks, was associated with an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Dr. Hillel Tobiasdirector of hepatology at Union Medical Group in New York, linked to Lenox Hill Hospital, told Healthline“The Endocrine Society report found a direct relationship between the extent of high fructose intake and the incidence of fatty liver disease in all populations.”
“Analysis of the deleterious effects of high-fructose corn syrup on fatty liver development, presented at the Endocrine Society meeting, confirms the importance of controlling the intake of this harmful ingredient found in most sodas and sweets,” Tobia Dr S said.
In fact, “a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola has 39 grams of sugar — it’s like eating 10 teaspoons of sugar, giving you empty calories with absolutely no nutrition” Alyssa Wilson, RD Talk to a Signos Health nutritionist Eat this, not that! “Because it’s in liquid form, drinking soda can quickly dump glucose into the bloodstream. This promotes a blood sugar spike that can lead to the classic symptoms of a blood sugar roller coaster: crashes, irritability, hunger, and sugar cravings, to name a few .”
Beyond that, Wilson explained that regular drinking of sodas, “especially those with high fructose corn syrup, has been associated with an increase in chronic health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease,” as well as non-alcoholic fats liver disease.
Wilson also noted that “artificial sweeteners aren’t much better when it comes to diet soda, as some studies have linked them to impaired glucose metabolism, increased calorie intake and weight gain.”
For better beverage options that still satisfy your soft drink cravings, be sure to read the 11 best diet sodas on grocery store shelves.
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desire O
Desirée O is a freelance writer covering topics such as lifestyle, food and nutrition news.read more