Drinking a soda could be worse than eating a candy bar, researchers find
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The drink that’s linked to higher rates of diabetes than candy bars
- A study by Brigham Young University and German institutions indicates that drinking sugary beverages, like soda, may be more harmful for your health than eating sugary foods.
- The research found a consistent link between drinking sugar and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, with each additional 12-ounce serving of soda or sugary drinks increasing the risk by 25%.
- The lead author, Karen Della Corte, suggests that liquid sugars overwhelm and disrupt liver metabolism due to their isolated nature, leading to increased liver fat and insulin resistance.
- Unlike sugary drinks, dietary sugars found in nutrient-rich foods like fruits and whole grains do not cause metabolic overload due to the presence of fiber, fats, and other beneficial nutrients.
- The study suggests that dietary guidelines should differentiate between sugar sources, with more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars found in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice.