Sugary drinks, including soda, energy drinks, sweetened juices, squashes, sweetened tea and coffee, and flavoured milks, are some of the main culprits that fuel weight issues due to their high calorie content, low satiety, and high fructose levels. Having just one daily sugary drink without cutting back on calories elsewhere will make you gain up to five pounds a year. A 12oz can of soda often contains more than 150 calories and 9–16 teaspoons of sugar, leading to fat storage, particularly in the belly. Beyond weight gain, routinely drinking these sugar-loaded beverages can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
These drinks are also terrible for your mind. According to new research from Bournemouth University, England, published in the ‘Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics’, there is a clear and consistent association between high sugar-drink intake and anxiety symptoms. Considering that the mental health implications of diet have been underexplored these are important findings. Anxiety disorders have risen sharply in recent years so it is important to identify lifestyle habits which can be changed to reduce the risk of this trend.