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  2. The Effects of Carbonated Beverages on Kidneys
  3. Ingredients in Diet Sodas
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  5. Pros & Cons of Soda & Soft Drinks
Diseases and Injuries

Health Dangers of Drinking Soda

Written by Melinda L. Secor
08 July, 2011

Drinking soda on an everyday basis can have health consequences. While an occasional soda is not a health risk for most people, regular consumption, even one or two sodas daily, can add up to health trouble over the long run, whether it is diet soda or regular. Over-consumption of soda has been linked to increased risk of a variety of diseases and health conditions, some of which can pose serious health risks.

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If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Obesity

Regular soda consumption has been linked with increased risk of overweight and obesity, which are, in turn, associated with higher risk of a heart disease, diabetes and many other serious health issues. A 2011 review published in the journal “Circulation” states that a positive association has been shown between sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption and weight gain in both children and adults.

Cardiovascular Health

The Disadvantages of Soft Drinks

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Drinking diet soda regularly may affect cardiovascular health. According to a February 2011 news release from the American Heart Association, research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference found that people who drink diet soda every day have a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events than those who reported no soda consumption.

Metabolic Syndrome

Regular soda drinkers have been shown to be at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a group of symptoms that indicate a heightened risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a person must display at least three of the following symptoms; excess fat in the abdominal area, high triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and high fasting blood sugar. According to a 2007 study published in the journal “Circulation,” researchers concluded that there was a 40 percent higher adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome among participants who drank one or more soft drinks daily relative to those with infrequent soft drink consumption, and this association remained consistent with both diet and regular soft drinks 2.

Kidney Problems

The Effects of Carbonated Beverages on Kidneys

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Diet soda has been associated with kidney problems, according to an August 2010 study published in the “Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.” Study authors concluded that women who drank more than two servings a day of artificially sweetened soda per day saw a decrease in kidney function over 20 years that was three times the rate of decline found in women who did not drink diet soda 3. No association was found between the consumption of sugar sweetened sodas and kidney function decline 3.

Other Health Risks

Other health risks associated with regular consumption of soda include dental problems and increased osteoporosis risk. Soda contains acidic ingredients that can erode tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. Frequent soda drinkers often consume fewer nutrient-rich beverages in the daily diet, such as milk and juice, replacing them with soft drinks, decreasing calcium intake and increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

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  • “Circulation”; Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of Developing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Adults in the Community; Ravi Dhingra Et Al.; May 2007
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Writer Bio

Melinda L. Secor left a 20-year career in health care and developmental disabilities to become a full-time freelance writer. In addition to blogging regularly, she writes for numerous websites on a wide range of topics that include politics, finance, homeschooling, parenting, sustainable living/self sufficiency, health, developmental disabilities, gardening and many others.

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