In case you’re still on the fence about quitting your soda habit, consider this: Drinking just one sugar-sweetened soft drink a day can drastically increase your odds of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetologia.
Researchers from Imperial College in London analyzed data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), which identified participants with type 2 diabetes and also included how much juices, nectars, sugar-sweetened soft drinks, and artificially sweetened soft drinks people in eight countries in Europe consumed. Of all the beverages examined, the sugar-sweetened sodas wreaked the most havoc: For each additional 12-ounces participants consumed per day, they boosted their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by another 22 percent.
Scary stuff, especially given that about eight percent of the population in the U.S.—around 25.8 million children and adults—already has diabetes. So stop dragging your feet and forget the fizzy drinks already! Or if you’ve already gone soda-free, forward this article to a friend or family member who isn’t to encourage them to follow in your footsteps.
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