Bubble trouble: Should our fizzy drinks come with a health warning? 14 Aug 2012 00:00 We always knew they weren’t full of goodness, but there is mounting evidence these drinks are positively bad for our health Getty They used to be an occasional treat, but now, for many of us, a can of fizzy pop has become a part of our daily diet. In fact, in the UK, we now drink more than six million litres of fizzy drinks per year. And whether you prefer full-fat Coke or a healthy-looking sparkling fruit juice, chances are this summer you’re turning to more than just water to refresh and hydrate yourself. While we always knew they weren’t exactly full of goodness, there is mounting evidence these drinks are positively bad for our health. And this has led many to ask whether these drinks should carry health warnings. A worrying new study has found that carbonated soft drinks can slow down the metabolism, leading to weight gain and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and may even cause liver disease. The research at Bangor University found the high sugar content in these drinks can cause muscles to use sugar for energy instead of burning fat. Dr Hans-Peter Kubis, the scientist who led the study, said: “Having seen all the medical evidence, I don’t touch soft drinks now.” Dr Kubis’s study follows several others that have investigated the heath risks of sugary drinks. Earlier this year, scientists from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that drinking just ONE can of a diet fizzy drink a day can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke by 43%. Other major studies have found that the artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks can increase your risk of liver disease. And men who consume a sugary drink every day are 20% more likely to develop heart disease. Another study found that just two fizzy drinks a week can double your risk of pancreatic cancer, and Israeli scientists have discovered that people who drink two cans of fizzy or soft drinks a day were five times more likely to develop fatty liver disease. Dr Kubis thinks this is because high sugar content in soft drinks can overwork the liver, the fat-burning organ, which can lead to it building up fatty deposits. Experts are also worried about the effects of fizzy drinks on youngsters. A study by the University of Oregon found children given sugary soft drinks eat fewer vegetables than those who only have water, and they crave high-fat and high-salt foods. Researchers found food tastes change when you consume a lot of sugar. Dr Carina Norris, a nutritionist and author of Healthy Eating, says: “Children develop their future tastes in childhood. If you give children fizzy or sugary drinks, they’ll develop a taste for high-sugar foods later on in life when habits become harder to break. “So break the habit early by watering down their juices and try to give them water more often than juice. Or better still, don’t start the habit and just give them water.” James Duigan, a personal trainer and author of The Clean & Lean Diet, adds: “The trouble with sugary foods and drinks is that they make us crave unhealthy foods. “Studies have shown that the more sugar we consume — either through drinks or food — the less we crave nutritious food.” So, should we ditch all soft drinks? Orange juice Orange juice: Fruit juices also have lots of sugar Getty Dr Norris says: “I think we should see them as a treat. Years ago they were seen as an occasional treat, but, along with lots of other sugary foods and snacks, they’ve somehow ended up as a regular addition to our daily diets.” James Duigan agrees: “We often forget about our liquid calories,” he says. “But an otherwise healthy diet can be ruined by a couple of soft drinks a day containing hundreds of calories and many teaspoons of sugar. Even seemingly healthy soft drinks are full of sugar or sweeteners, which over time will make you fat.” Research from the University of Glasgow backs this up. Scientists there found the average person in the UK drinks 3,144 calories worth of soft drinks a week. This works out at around 450 calories a day. The researchers also found that most Brits underestimate the amount of sugar found in soft drinks, especially so-called “healthy” ones, such as smoothies and fruit juices. Then there’s the impact on your dental health as fizzy drinks, fruit juice and sparkling fruit juices are very acidic and bad for your teeth. Dr Norris says: “People know that drinks like cola are bad for their teeth, but they don’t realise that seemingly healthy fruit juices are also bad. “The natural fruit sugars they contain are just as bad for teeth as the artificial sugars and sweeteners in cola and other sugary drinks. If you’re drinking them every day, the sugars will cling to your teeth and cause decay.” One of the best ways to drink them is through a straw. Dr Norris explains: “This reduces the amount of contact between sugar and teeth. It’s especially important for children to do this because their teeth are more vulnerable to decay.” The shocking amount of sugar in soft drinks (1 teaspoon equals 4.2g of sugar) ? Glass of pomegranate juice: 22 teaspoons ? Glass of sparkling orange sports drink: 16 teaspoons ? McDonald’s Fruitizz: 12 teaspoons ? Bottle of Pret A Manger Mango Smoothie: 8 teaspoons ? Can of Red Bull: 7 teaspoons ? Can of Coca-Cola: 7 teaspoons ? Bottle of Glaceau Vitamin Water Triple Berry: 4.6 teaspoons ? Glass of Tropicana 100% orange juice: 4 teaspoons Try these five health-boosting drinks instead Water “It sounds boring, but it really is the best drink for your health, digestion, energy levels and skin. So aim for around two litres a day,” says Dr Norris. “If you need some flavour, add a slice of lemon or lime to liven it up. This comes with the added benefit of improving your digestion.” Coffee It contains health-boosting antioxidants and also speeds up your metabolism. “But just stick to one or two cups a day,” says James Duigan. “Any more caffeine will put stress on your system, leading to the release of the hormone cortisol, which causes the body to cling to fat.” Tea A recent study – in the Nutrition Bulletin – found three cups of tea a day can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Green tea It contains antioxidants, plus studies show it speeds up your metabolism. “Regular and green tea are very healthy,’ says James. “But it’s worth remembering that these drinks contain caffeine, too.” Coconut water Super-slim celebrities including Miranda Kerr and Rihanna are fans of coconut water, which studies show can help you lose weight. Try Vita Coco Coconut Water, available from Boots stores and supermarkets, priced £3.49. F Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/should-our-fizzy-drinks-come-with-a-health-1259615#ixzz2jhyTb2lK Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 19:51:03 +0000
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