By Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T.
In case you think that sugar-loaded soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages aren’t really THAT bad, here’s another study that says the opposite. They can raise your blood pressure. Medical researchers at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Connecticut analyzed 12 previous studies investigating the effects of sugary drinks on blood pressure, and found that regular consumption is associated with higher blood pressure leading to an increased incidence of hypertension. More than 400,000 subjects were involved in the dozen studies. Restriction of sugary beverages should be part of any lifestyle strategy in the treatment of hypertension, the researchers said.
What This Means To You: Check out my “Sodacide” article. If you are a soft drink drinker, hopefully the article will persuade you to lay off. If not, then it will probably take some do-it-or-else advice from your doctor.
My Viewpoint: The research news on soda consumption is consistently bad, yet so many people are addicted or drink regularly. Obviously they aren’t paying attention. Now we can add increased blood pressure to the list that includes an elevated risk of heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes. Sugar consumption generates oxidative stress in the body, and oxidative stress is a prime cause of high blood pressure. It also contributes to accelerated aging.
My Recommendation: An occasional drink is OK, but just don’t make it a daily habit. Sodas bring nothing to the table. It just erodes your health. Just remember that sugar is your enemy.
Access the Connecticut study here.
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