By Paul Chong Saturday 15 August 2015

Be it pop, soda, lolly water or any other fizzy drink, its popularity & convenience is without doubt. These drinks are kind of additive as with junk foods. Makes no difference whether they are in diet form or otherwise, such drinks are not good to drink. In consuming this sweet fizzy delight, most people generally fail to see light!
It’s found that soda has been linked to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the fact, the average Australian still consumes at least 2 sweet carbonated drinks every day. A recent study from the University Of California, San Francisco found direct links between the consumption of sweetened carbonated beverages and premature cellular aging.

The authors of the research, Elissa Epel, Ph.D. and Cindy Leung, Ph.D. decided to test the effects of sugared soda on the aging process. The researchers tested a group of people who consumed 12-20 ounces of soda or more on a daily basis, and measured the length of their telomere (the ends of chromosomes, which protect them from deterioration) and found that when compared to the control group, their telomere were significantly shorter. A short telomere is a good indicator of upcoming disease onset and has been linked to the development of cancer and cellular aging.The study tested the length of the telomere before and after regular consumption of soft drinks and found that they, indeed, cause significant shortening of the telomere. When put in numbers, the results are even more shocking: Daily consumption of 20 ounces of carbonated drinks was shown to cause 4.6 years of cellular damage, meaning your body ages 4.6 years, only because you drink soda. Furthermore, telomere shortening has been associated with insulin resistance, oxidative damage to the tissues, and inflammation.

The 5,309 participants, all aged between 20-65, came from different backgrounds, lived different lifestyles, and were of various races and ethnicities, with similar results for participants. Furthermore, the research found that it is likely that this kind of cellular damage can occur in children.

This is why it is highly recommended that you avoid drinking these types of drinks and opt for a healthier option, such as natural fruit juice or water. Natural plain water is best.