Contents
- 1 Scientific studies prove that a well-known “C…-C…” drink is more harmful than alcoholic beverages. The same can be said about sweets and fizzy drinks: a glass of soda harms the body to an incomparably greater extent than a glass of vodka! But many people drink sweet water every day…
- 2 UNHEALTHY AND HARMFUL DRINKS DESTRUCTS OUR BONES
- 3 What destructs our bones
Scientific studies prove that a well-known “C…-C…” drink is more harmful than alcoholic beverages. The same can be said about sweets and fizzy drinks: a glass of soda harms the body to an incomparably greater extent than a glass of vodka! But many people drink sweet water every day…
UNHEALTHY AND HARMFUL DRINKS DESTRUCTS OUR BONES
The harmful effect of “C…-C…” results from the huge amount of sugar and fructose in the drink. Even a small bottle of carbonated beverage is a real poison.
The liver and pancreas instantly react to the sugar present in the drink. Insulin is produced in large quantities, while blood sugar and blood pressure increase. All glucose presenting in the drink immediately transforms into fat cells. Just imagine this! 10 teaspoons of sugar in one bottle! And now, imagine how many extra centimeters you will get at the waist…
What destructs our bones
“C…-C…” drink is more harmful than alcoholic beverages. It destructs our bones.
Consumption of sweet and carbonated drinks is a major cause of diabetes and obesity, it destroys our bones. Unfortunately, that’s not all. Phosphoric acid is a part of “C…-C…”, binds calcium, magnesium, and zinc in the intestine’s lower part, and is removed from the body in an accelerated mode! Anyway, we usually get insufficient amounts of these elements with food… As a result, our bones become brittle and our metabolism gets worse.
All energy drinks and sweet juices with preservatives can also be considered drinks potentially hazardous to health because of their high sugar content. Compared to these drinks, even hoppy beer is the healthiest product!
Scientific Studies Prove That Soda Is More Harmful Than Alcohol
You read that right – mounting research indicates that sugary sodas, fruit drinks, and other sweetened beverages may be worse for your health than alcoholic drinks like beer or vodka. It’s a shocking claim considering alcohol is widely recognized as an addictive and potentially toxic substance. However, the scientific evidence against excessive sugar consumption, especially from liquids, is piling up.
While an occasional alcoholic drink isn’t ideal, regularly guzzling cans of soda or glasses of fruit punch poses serious risks that are frequently overlooked. Many health experts now consider sugary beverages to be a primary culprit behind soaring rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other metabolic disorders. Here’s a deeper look at the research comparing the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverages versus alcohol.
The Unique Dangers of Liquid Sugar
When you consume sugar in liquid form like soda or fruit juice, it enters the bloodstream very rapidly without filling you up the way solid foods do. This causes excessive spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels that can promote inflammatory processes, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and ultimately weight gain over time.
Additionally, the fructose component of added sugars is particularly taxing on the liver when consumed in high amounts. It gets metabolized like alcohol and can cause similar types of liver damage and dyslipidemia (unhealthy cholesterol/triglyceride levels).
In contrast, the small amounts of naturally occurring fructose in whole fruits and vegetables aren’t problematic when counterbalanced by fiber and nutrients. However large doses of added sugars overwhelm the liver’s capacity to metabolize fructose safely.
Studies Comparing Health Impacts
While alcohol should never be considered a “healthy” beverage choice, research directly comparing the effects of sugar-sweetened drinks versus alcoholic drinks paints a sobering picture:
- An analysis using risk data from dietary studies found that consuming one 12-ounce sugar-sweetened beverage per day had a higher impact on cardiometabolic risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues [mask_link]than drinking one alcoholic drink daily[/mask_link].
- A systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that sugar-sweetened beverage intake was more consistently associated with increased risks for obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke than alcohol intake.
- One study modeling the disease burden and mortality of sugar-sweetened beverages versus alcohol estimated that in 2015, sugary drink consumption accounted for more disease-related deaths in Mexico than alcohol (31,000 compared to 28,000).
- Research on adolescents found that higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake was linked to markers of fatty liver disease progression, poorer insulin sensitivity, and greater abdominal obesity than moderate alcohol consumption.
Of course, both alcohol and sugary beverages carry major health drawbacks in excess, and alcohol remains linked to injuries, violence, cancer risks, liver cirrhosis, and other serious consequences from overconsumption and alcohol use disorder. But when consumed in similar moderate amounts, the data suggests sweetened beverages may outpace alcohol’s negative metabolic impacts.
How Much Is Too Much Sugar?
So how much added sugar from sodas, sports drinks, juices, and other sweetened beverages is too much? Most major health organizations recommend no more than about 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugars per day for women and 9 teaspoons (38g) for men. That amounts to less than one 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola (39g).
However, the average American consumes a staggering 19.5 teaspoons of added sugars per day, with sugary drinks accounting for nearly half (47%) of that intake. With around 120 calories and 30g of sugar per 12-ounce serving, these liquid calories add up fast. Even small amounts of soda or similar drinks can quickly push you past recommended daily sugar limits and exponentially increase disease risk over time.
Simple Tips for Cutting Liquid Sugar
Limiting sugary beverage consumption should be a top priority if you want to minimize your intake of added sugars and the many associated health impacts. Here are some simple tips:
- Make water or unsweetened herbal tea your go-to beverage. Infuse with fresh fruit or lemon/lime for flavor.
- For a sweet drink craving, reach for lower-sugar options like flavored seltzers, unsweetened nut milk, or beverages sweetened with zero-calorie alternative sweeteners in moderation.
- Gradually wean yourself off soda and juice by diluting them with water to reduce sugar content.
- Opt for plain milk over chocolate milk or other sugary dairy drinks.
- When you do indulge in sweetened beverages, stick to a small serving size (8 oz or less).
- Check nutrition labels and limit drinks with over 4-6 grams of added sugar per serving.
- Stay hydrated with unsweetened drinks during/after workouts instead of sports drinks.
The Bottom Line – Moderation is Key
While the science is clear that excess sugar from drinks is uniquely damaging and may present greater cardiometabolic risks than moderate alcohol consumption, the solution is straightforward: reduce intake of all sweetened beverages.
Both alcohol and sugary drinks should be limited, but cutting out soda, fruit punch, sweet tea, and their ilk is a powerful way to reduce empty liquid calories and slash added sugar consumption. Quenching thirst with water, unsweetened beverages, and mindful indulgence of sugary drinks can go a long way in preserving your metabolic health.

