Coca-Cola is under scrutiny as experts sound the alarm over its health risks.
What happened?
While the sugar content in soda isn’t surprising, researchers are now determining exactly what happens to your body when you drink a regular can of Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola is being scrutinized in new research, with researchers linking the drink to fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, The Telegraph reports.
For example, a study published in the journal Nature Medicine linked millions of cases of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease to sugary drinks. Likewise, a study by a team of Swedish researchers even directly blamed the sugar drink industry for causing cardiovascular disease.
When you drink a regular can of Coca-Cola, your body experiences a sugar surge within the first hour of drinking it. According to The Daily Telegraph, because Coca-Cola contains caffeine and sugar, continuing to drink soda can also lead to “a degree of dependence” on you. This dependence may lead some long-term cola drinkers to “gradually quit cola to lessen the effects of caffeine and sugar withdrawal.”
Why is the new research important?
This new study highlights the health risks of regular Coca-Cola drinking. To make matters worse, in the UK, experts have also criticized the country’s food labeling system, which gave Coca-Cola three green traffic lights for a label that misled consumers.
“Coke just went through the roof [for sugar]”, professional registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine told The Telegraph. “In my opinion it should not be allowed to be sold. “
From an environmental perspective, Coca-Cola is the world’s leading producer of branded plastic waste, and while the company has taken some steps to reduce plastic waste, it still has a long way to go.
What measures are being taken to address Coca-Cola’s health risks?
Researchers are continuing to study the long-term effects of drinking soda, adding to a growing body of evidence highlighting the health risks.
To protect yourself from these risks, you can reduce your soda intake. Health experts also recommend swapping that can of Coca-Cola for a healthier alternative, such as carbonated water.
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