Drinking sugary soda causes premature aging

A recent study suggests that drinking sugary soda can cause cellular aging similar to smoking.

The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers examined survey data from 1999 to 2002 on US adults with no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

The study compared the cells of people who drank sugary soda every day with those who did not drink soda. The researchers concluded that drinking sugary soda every day causes white blood cells to age prematurely.

Soda is bad for white blood cells. So is smoking, and in the long run, smoking is worse than drinking soda. People who drink soda regularly are putting themselves at risk for diabetes, heart disease, and heart attacks.

Sugary soda is unhealthy

Looking at the chromosome tips of study participants, scientists discovered that regular soda consumption was associated with shorter telomeres. Telomeres are protective units of DNA, essential for cell division. Telomeres get shorter as we age and cannot regenerate. When telomeres get too short, the cells die. Drinking sugary soda can cause telomeres to shorten more quickly.

The longer your telomeres, the younger and healthier you are. Conversely, the shorter your telomeres, the faster you age.

Additionally, the study also suggests that drinking sugary soda can cause disease, not only by limiting blood sugar control but also by increasing cell aging.

According to Women Online