Drinking sugary soda may do more than cause weight gain. This not-so-healthy habit may also accelerate the aging process, according to new research.
Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco found that drinking a 20-ounce soda every day accelerates aging by about 4.6 years, which is akin to smoking-related aging.
Their findings appear in the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco found that drinking a 20-ounce soda every day accelerates aging by about 4.6 years, which is akin to smoking-related aging.
After analyzing data from a survey of more than 5,300 healthy Americans, they found a link between sugary soda consumption and the length of white blood cells’ telomeres. Those participants who drank a lot of sugary soda had shorter telomeres than those who didn’t. Short telomeres are linked to shorter life spans and also have been associated with some aging-related diseases.
There was no association with telomere shortening and consumption of diet soda or noncarbonated sugary drinks, the study showed. Consumption of 100% fruit juice was marginally associated with longer telomeres.
