Have just ONE can of Coca Cola a week: Health experts issue new plea in bid to stem obesity crisis
Stick to just ONE can of Coke a week: Bold new plea from scientists afraid consuming more than that could lead to heart attacks and even cancer
- Overconsumption of added sugar has been linked to 45 different health problems
- The WHO recommends that people consume up to six teaspoons of sugar per day
If you’re about to reach for a second can of sugary pop, you might want to think again.
Experts have said people should drink no more than one sugary drink a week β otherwise they risk a host of health problems, from heart attacks to cancer.
A large-scale study of added sugars found that overconsumption is linked to 45 different health problems.
And those who enjoy sugary drinks β such as fizzy drinks, smoothies and fruit juices β are at particular risk.
They urge people to stick to the World Health Organization’s six teaspoons a day to avoid the risks ranging from diabetes to tooth decay.
A large study by scientists in the US and China on added sugars shows that overconsumption is linked to 45 different health problems
This is equivalent to a 45 g chocolate bar, five chocolate digestifs or two 150 ml glasses of fruit juice.
Scientists in the US and China reviewed evidence related to 8,601 articles on 83 health outcomes in adults and children.
They found that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was significantly associated with increased body weight.
For every sugary drink consumed, people have a 17 percent higher risk of heart disease — leading to heart attack and stroke, a 4 percent higher risk of death overall, and a 4 percent higher risk of gout.
Significant harmful associations were found between the consumption of dietary sugar and 18 endocrine or metabolic problems, including diabetes, gout and obesity.
It was also closely linked to ten cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, as well as seven cancers, including breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer.
Excess sugar has also been linked to other health problems such as asthma, tooth decay and depression, according to findings published in the BMJ.
Even fructose, a naturally occurring sugar found in many fruit juices, was associated with an increasing 22 percent increased risk of pancreatic cancer, for every 25 g consumed per day.
The authors acknowledge that most evidence is observational and argue that further research is needed into the relationship between ‘free’ sugars and health problems.
But they recommend limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks to less than one 200-355ml serving per week – the equivalent of a standard can – and sugar to less than 25g per day – about six teaspoons.
“To change sugar consumption patterns, especially for children and adolescents, a combination of widespread public health education and global policy is urgently needed,” they said.