Sugar Sweetened Sodas and Diabetes

Sugar Sweetened Sodas Linked to Weight Gain and Diabetes

The Study

This article from the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that there is a link between sugar sweetened sodas and diabetes. Analysis of the eight year Nurses' Health Study II shows that women who increased their sugar sweetened soft drink consumption from one soda per week to one or more sugar sweetened soft drinks per day gained weight and had a higher risk of type II diabetes. Women who decreased their consumption of sugar sweetened sodas tended to lose weight and had a lower frequency of type II diabetes.

The rapidly absorbable sugars and empty excess calories lead to weight gain and to diabetes. This information comes as no surprise to many nutritionists and public health experts who have witnessed this trend for years.

Replace Sugar Sweetened Sodas With Water

The best solution to prevent this particular risk for type II diabetes is to drink fewer sugar sweetened sodas. Replace them with water. Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of pure water every day. If you find yourself craving sugar sweetened sodas, then add some pure 100 percent fruit juice to sparkling water, or add flavor to plain water by adding a slice of lime or lemon. Be sure to read labels when you buy products that appear to be water with fruit juice flavoring...some of them have added sugar as well.