If you drink soda every day, here’s how long you have left to live…
Think before you drink, scientists warn, because your soda habit could be quietly killing you.
Research shows that just two sweetened drinks a day, including soda and fruit juice, can cause you to lose 24 minutes of your life.
This means that your drinking habit could take years off your life expectancy.
For example, if you start drinking soda around age five, you could lose almost a year of your life (304 days) by the time you’re 55.
According to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, about half of the U.S. population has [age of two] consumes an average of two sugary drinks per day.
Researchers say added sugar is the problem, with this concoction linked to several types of cancer, chronic kidney disease and heart disease. However, studies have shown that even artificial sweeteners can cause similar health problems.
Scientists from the University of Michigan also looked at how different foods can lower your life expectancy.
The worst offensive item turned out to be a hot dog, with each item shaving 36 minutes off your life.
Research shows that just two sweetened drinks a day, including soft drinks and fruit juices, can cause you to lose 24 minutes of your life
Cured meat was found to be the second most harmful food, robbing you of 26 minutes after each grazing session, while egg breakfast sandwiches could cost you ten minutes per sub.
This means that if you combine two soft drinks with a hot dog and an egg sandwich every day for a year, this amazing combination can last you about 18 days.
Throw some salted meat on top and this would add another seven days, bringing the total to 25 days lost per year.
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Other health-damaging products were found to be bacon, which takes six minutes of life, and cheeseburgers, which takes nine minutes.
Commenting on the University of Michigan findings, leading food safety expert Dr. Darin Detwiler told DailyMail.com: ‘This study reinforces that making small, consistent changes in drinking habits can extend life expectancy by years and improve overall health .
‘If you take this study literally, a healthy 20-year-old person – whose life expectancy could be 79 years – who starts drinking two soft drinks a day, according to the study, could lose three to four years of his life due to the impact of those drinks. ‘
The graph above shows the shift in additives in five food groups between 2001 and 2019. Data is in average additives per item
Dr. However, Detwiler emphasizes that there are limitations to the study as the results are “observational and not scientific,” meaning the findings “cannot definitively prove a cause-and-effect relationship.”
Nevertheless, he encourages people to take note of the findings and use them to adjust their diet appropriately.
Looking at the findings around sweetened drinks, he adds: ‘Cutting out soft drinks or reducing consumption could extend life expectancy.
“But one thing is for sure: Cutting out these sugary drinks will definitely improve your quality of life, including reducing the risks of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases.”
‘This could also improve weight management and overall health.
‘You can see soft drink consumption as driving a car without regular maintenance.
‘While it doesn’t guarantee a breakdown, the chance of a serious problem increases over time, especially when combined with other unhealthy habits.
‘Perhaps this research can support public awareness campaigns about risks.
“I could also see this as a driving force behind policies to reduce the availability of soft drinks in schools and workplaces.”