It's time to switch your favourite soda drinks to something healthier. Fresh juice, anyone? Sorry, but The Daily Mail says you have to say good bye to your one-coke-in-can-a-day ritual unless you want to increase your heart failure by 20%.
Researchers from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm warn that drinking just over one can of fizzy drink a day severely increases the risk of heart problems. Studies have previously found sweetened drinks are associated with higher blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and stroke. The UK Government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition even warned adults this summer to slow down on their sugar intake by consuming less than 30g of sugar a day (i.e. 7 teaspoons or less than that is in a 300ml can of Coca-Cola, which contains 35g).
On the other hand, this new study from Sweden is the very first research that has linked the popular soft drinks to heart failure. Heart failure is caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body, commonly after a heart attack. It is sometimes considered as worse than many cancers.
The study included 42,000 middle-aged men aged 45-79 and conducted a survey with them about the food and drink they regularly consumed. For over a period of 12 years, the researchers tracked them and observed their health conditions and eating habits. During the course of the study, 3,604 new cases of heart failure were diagnosed and 509 of them died of their condition.
After looking thoroughly through the different factors that may influence the results, two servings of sweetened drinks was linked to a 23 percent increased probability of developing heart failure, compared with drinking none at all.
However, the research team also emphasized that the study only involved older white men and conclusion may not be relevant to younger age groups.
The study adds credence to increasing calls for the Government to implement a sugar tax on cola drinks supported by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
