LOS ANGELES—The latest results from a health study are highlighting perhaps what we have already known for a long time: soft drinks are bad for you. Soft drinks include soda such as cola, root beer, orange and other flavored drinks with added sugars. These soft drinks account for the largest source of added sugars in our daily diet. They have long had bad press, not least for the acids added to these drinks, which, according to The Journal of the American Dental Association, cause tooth enamel erosion and an increased early onset of plaque, decay and gum disease. This has become a major problem, especially for the younger generation who are frequently targeted by marketing campaigns promoting the consumption of such beverages. However, it seems that sugary soft drinks have a much deeper secret than we once thought.

Photo by Jocelyn Holt

The results from a recent study, “The International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP)” by the American Heart Association, has shown soft drinks have a direct correlation to a rise in blood pressure. The study was carried out in the United States and in the United Kingdom in 2,696 participants ages 40 to 59. Results indicated that “higher blood pressure levels were found in individuals who consumed more glucose and fructose, both sweeteners that are found in high-fructose corn syrup, the most common sugar sweetener used by the beverage industry. Higher blood pressure was more pronounced in people who consumed high levels of both sugar and sodium.”  Interestingly, the report found there was no direct correlation between blood pressure and diet soft drinks. However, it was found that BMI levels were higher in those who consumed diet soda over those who didn’t and were also less active on a daily basis. The results showed that “for every extra sugar-sweetened beverage drunk per day participants on average had significantly higher systolic blood pressure by 1.6 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure higher by 0.8 mm Hg. This remained statistically significant even after adjusting for differences in body mass.”

So what is the cause for such a direct rise in blood pressure by a seemingly innocent can of soda? Researchers from the study indicated, “One possible mechanism for sugar-sweetened beverages and fructose increasing blood pressure levels is a resultant increase in the level of uric acid in the blood that may in turn lower the nitric oxide required to keep the blood vessels dilated. Sugar consumption also has been linked to enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity and sodium retention.”

Add on to these dangers the added calorific intake of sugary drinks (on average 200 calories in a single can of soda), and one wonders if the consumption of such beverages is really worth it. So should our alarm bells be ringing when soft drinks are causing this much damage to our bodies? The primary consumer base of soft drinks are predominantly those who fall into the category of unhealthy eating, and those who do little or no physical activity. So it seems the consumption of such drinks accounts for only a fraction of a big nationwide health problem where lack of exercise and a healthy diet is prevalent. Ian Brown, Ph.D., research associate at Imperial College London, said, “People who drink a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages appear to have less healthy diets. They are consuming empty calories without the nutritional benefits of real food. They consume less potassium, magnesium and calcium.” One is, of course, more likely to see someone overweight and unhealthy guzzling from a can of soda than a slim healthy person who would be more likely to be drinking a healthier alternative.

Ultimately, we all have a choice and a responsibility, both as a consumer and in many cases, as a parent. Choosing natural alternatives to such sugary beverages, for example mineral water and milk, is the obvious option. It is essential to realize that healthy eating (and drinking) is important not just for aesthetic reasons, but also for longevity and long-term good health. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is vital to our own wellness and to that of the younger generation, who are likely to adopt our own habits and pass them on to their offspring in years to come. Soft drinks, in short, are really not worth the hassle. Drink healthier and you will find you can spend your calories more wisely, on real food, not on a sugary, acid-filled liquid that does more harm than good.