Cut Back On Sugary Beverages To Have A Longer Life: Study

July 5, 2015

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average adult takes in 22-34 teaspoons of added sugar per day, which is more than twice the amount of sugar required by the body. Many countries in the world are witnessing a significant number of deaths occurring from a single dietary factor, sugar-sweetened beverages. According to a research published in the journal Circulation Consumption, sugary drinks might lead to an estimated 184,000 adult deaths each year worldwide. These shocking statistics must be treated as a health red alert.

Sugary beverages like soda, fruit drinks, sports/energy drinks, sweetened iced teas, or homemade sugary drinks such as frescas that contained at least 50 kcal per 8oz serving were found to increase the risk of health problems, notably, diabetes, obesity, heart diseases, and cancers, ultimately leading to death. Estimates of consumption were made from 62 dietary surveys conducted across 51 countries.

Sugar is absolute empty calories, with no nutrients and no healthy enzymes. It should be a global priority to substantially reduce or eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages from the diet, says senior author of the study, Dariush Mozaffarian, from the Tufts University in Boston.

Experts suggest that cravings are driven by the brain’s need for reward, and not the body’s requirement for food. Sugar stimulates your brain to release serotonin (the feel-good hormone) and endorphins, which give a natural high to you, and induce sugary cravings in what can only be described as a vicious cycle. Here are some tips to break out of the sugar habit:

Try these five natural remedies to curb sugar cravings.
Refer to these healthy food swaps to break out of your sweet whim.
When making baked goods or other sweet recipes, substitute sugar with natural sweeteners.
Try to identify the hidden sources of added sugar. Always read the ingredients on your packaged food, even that which is labeled as ‘health food’ or ‘diet food’.

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