If you have type 2 diabetes and regularly consume sugary drinks, you could be at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease or even death. This dire warning comes from a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and highlights the need for greater awareness about the dangers of too much sugar consumption.
Read on to discover why drinking sugary drinks could put your health at risk, what other factors led to this research conclusion, and how you can reduce your chance of mortality.
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Sugary beverages are becoming more popular, with many people consuming them daily. However, they can have a significant impact, especially for those with type 2 diabetes or other health issues. People need to understand the implications of these sugary drinks on health so that they can choose healthier options.
For this new study, researchers analyzed health data from 9,252 women participating in the Nurse’s Health Study and 3,519 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, all of whom had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at baseline or some point during the study. The study lasted for an average of 18.5 years which participants reported how often they consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), fruit juice, coffee, tea, low-fat cow’s milk, full-fat cow’s milk, and plain water.
Researchers found that in people who regularly consumed SSBs, there was higher all-cause mortality and higher incidence of mortality from cardiovascular disease. Each additional serving of SSBs was associated with an 8% higher all-cause mortality.
Participants who consumed healthier beverages such as coffee, tea, low-fat cow’s milk, and plain water had a decreased rate of all-cause from cardiovascular disease. Replacing one daily serving of an SSB with one serving of coffee was associated with an 18% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 20% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality; tea with 16% and 24% lower risk; plain water with a 16% and 20% lower risk, and low-fat cow’s milk with a 12% and 19% lower risk.
Lead author Qi Sun said, “People living with diabetes should be picky about how they keep themselves hydrated. Switching from sugar-sweetened beverages to healthier beverages will bring health benefits.”
Beverages are an important part of a daily diet, so people must understand their healthy options. An emphasis is often placed on the foods we eat, but drinks are often overlooked as healthy or unhealthy options. This research helps to highlight how sugary drinks can have a great impact on overall general well-being.
Maintaining Health Blood Sugar Levels
Healthy Blood Sugar Support can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels using a number of ingredients that have been shown in clinical studies. The health benefits of this unique formula include supporting blood-sugar metabolism and promoting healthy cholesterol and glucose levels already within the normal range. Healthy Blood Sugar Support can also help to reduce excessive hunger or increased appetite, fatigue, and blood glucose spikes after meals.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
