Sugary Drinks Are Harmful
Regular soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, pre-sweetened coffee and tea, juice drinks with added sugar are high in sugar. They may also contain empty calories, with little or no nutrients, and can contribute to weight gain and other health problems.
The liquid sugar from sugar-sweetened drinks may lead to fat deposits in the liver which is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Obesity. Research has shown that for each additional sugary drink a child consumes, the risk of obesity increases by 60%.
- Cavities. Drinking sugary drinks nearly doubles the risk of dental cavities in children. Sugar from juice fuels the bacteria that cause cavities so even 100% juice should be limited to 4 – 6 ounces and just at mealtime.
- Diabetes. People who drink one or more sugary drinks per day have a 26% higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not drink sugary drinks or who drink less than one serving each month.
- Heart Attack. Women who drink more than two sugary drinks a day are 40% more likely to have a heart attack or die from heart disease.
Some drinks, like sports or energy drinks, juice drinks (not 100% juice), flavored milk, and sweetened coffee and tea, may even seem healthy, but are loaded with sugar.
Toolkits
Boulder County Public Health’s position on sugar sweetened beverages.
