Daily Soda Intake Tops AHA Sugar Limit in 1 Can, Raising Gut, Heart and Brain Risks
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · May 23
Daily Soda Intake Tops AHA Sugar Limit in 1 Can, Raising Gut, Heart and Brain Risks
4 articles · Updated · HuffPost · May 23
One regular soda typically packs 37 grams of sugar, 155 calories and 34 milligrams of caffeine—enough sugar to exceed the American Heart Association’s daily limit for women and men.
Experts said the immediate effects are a brief caffeine-and-sugar energy spike followed by a crash, while carbonation and high sugar can trigger bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation.
Longer term, daily soda consumption is linked to belly fat, higher risks of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Diet soda does not fully avoid those concerns, the experts said, because artificial sweeteners have also been tied to gut, heart and brain problems, including higher depression and dementia risk.
To cut back, they suggested replacing soda with unsweetened sparkling drinks, infused water or low-sugar caffeinated alternatives, while tapering caffeine gradually and maintaining hydration.
Could your daily soda habit be programming health problems into your future children and even grandchildren?
Diet sodas are linked to dementia and stroke, so why do government agencies still declare their ingredients safe?
If one can of soda exceeds daily sugar limits, why are these drinks still so cheap and widely available?