A disturbing new study published in Nature Medicine has uncovered the devastating toll of sugar-sweetened beverages. The research found they were linked to 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million cases of heart disease in 2020 alone.
Researchers analyzed sugary drink consumption across 184 countries, comparing data from 1990 to 2020. What they found paints a troubling picture of who's most affected…- Men consume more than women.
- Younger adults drink more than older adults.
- City dwellers outpace rural residents.
- Those with higher education levels surprisingly drink more.
But why are these drinks so dangerous? Well, it comes down to how our bodies process liquid sugar.
When you drink a sugary beverage…- The calories are absorbed
- You feel less satisfied than if you'd eaten solid food.
- Your body struggles to regulate blood sugar.
- Fat begins accumulating in your
- Your cardiovascular system takes a hit.
However, the impact isn't felt equally across the globe. And there's a reason for that—beverage manufacturers (Big Soda) actively target specific regions with aggressive marketing campaigns and fight against health-protective legislation.
Think about it for a moment… these aren't just numbers. Each case represents a real person whose life has been forever changed by something seemingly innocent, such as a daily soft drink habit.
The good news is that the solution isn't complicated, and you CAN avoid the same fate as those millions of other folks…- Switch to water or unsweetened beverages.
- Read labels carefully—added sugars are hidden in many drinks.
- Keep in mind that "natural" juices can be just as sugary, so limit them.
- Know that diet sodas aren't the answer (click here for more on why)
Remember, every time you reach for a drink, you're making a choice about your health. Make it count.
Health and Happiness,
 Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. The TRUTH about “natural” sugars revealed!
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SOURCE: Cudhea, F., Miller, V., Shi, P., Zhang, J., Sharib, J. R., Cash, S. B., Barquera, S., Micha, R., & Mozaffarian, D. (2025). Burdens of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages in 184 countries. Nature Medicine, 1-13. |
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