Drinking sweet soda with meals has become common these days. Be it a quick lunch or a fancy dinner, fizzy drinks make the dining experience more fun. But, even though these drinks may be cool and delicious, research has shown that this habit can be dangerous for heart health.

Shocking warning from new research

A study recently published in Frontiers in Public Health has highlighted the association between consumption of sweetened beverages during meals and an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and other serious cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

20 years of data and study of 70,000 people

Researchers studied data from more than 70,000 adults in Sweden.

• The data came from dietary questionnaires given by participants from 1997 to 2009.
• These people were tracked for more than two decades, revealing the effects of sugary beverages on their habits and health.

Sweetened beverages increase risk of ischemic stroke

The research found that:

• People who regularly consumed sugar-sweetened beverages had an increased risk of ischemic stroke.
• Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, which can cause severe brain damage.

Effects of other sweet foods

The study also observed that:

• High consumption of toppings such as jam and honey was found to be associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• While sweet treats like pastries showed less association with heart diseases.

Harmful Effects of Sweet Soda: The Role of Fructose

Research attributes the harmful effects of sweetened sodas to their high fructose content.

• Metabolism of fructose:
  • Unlike glucose, fructose is metabolized primarily in the liver.
  • It turns fructose into triglycerides, which can accumulate in blood vessels as fat and cause heart disease.
• Chronic inflammation:
  • Fructose metabolism may increase chronic inflammation in blood vessels.
  • This contributes to increased risk of cardiovascular problems and stroke.

Dyslipidemia and excess triglycerides

Excessive consumption of sweet soda:

• Lipid profile may be disrupted.
• Excess triglycerides can cause dyslipidemia (imbalanced cholesterol levels).
• This condition can prove to be extremely dangerous for the heart and blood vessels.