Very few things will have as immediate of an impact on your health as cutting back on all sugary drinks. In fact, a new study just found that simply swapping one sugary drink for an unsweetened choice such as water or tea could decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 10%. Conversely, increasing your sugary drink consumption by more than half a serving per day may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by a whopping 16%. 

Research tells us that there is a connection between high sugar consumption and higher chances of weight gain as well as type 2 diabetes. Even if weight gain is not visible, these drinks can still cause diabetes. Researchers have even theorized that high intakes of sugar increase fat accumulation in the liver, hence disrupting your body’s natural insulin activity. 

You may also find yourself disillusioned at the fact that fruit juices are not a better option either. The same study showed that even 100% natural fruit juices pose the same risk of type 2 diabetes as commercial sugary drinks. Doctors, instead, recommend sticking with whole fruits which offer more nutritional value due to their high fiber content.

 We recognize that you might still be tempted to crack open a can of soda, and that’s ok, but make these moments exceptions rather than the norm. Problems arise with frequent consumption over long periods of time. In the long term, you will see great benefits to your health by just cutting down the sugary drinks.