New Delhi: Two cans of fizzy pop a week is enough to increase the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, warns new research.

A recent study suggested that two soda drinks every day makes consumers 2.4 times more likely to develop diabetes, regardless of whether these beverages contain sugar or not.

Researchers say the drinks are “energy dense” and their consumption has been associated with excessive caloric intake and subsequent weight gain.

The review, led by Stellenbosch University in South Africa, evaluated 36 academic studies of people who drank more than five sugar-sweetened drinks a week.

Sugary drinks, such as cola and lemonade, are known to lead to diabetes by causing a spike in blood sugar levels, according to the Mirror.
High-levels of sugary beverages are long-known to cause obesity and lead to chronic illness; soda consumption is steadily rising among all age groups worldwide.

In the study, individuals consuming sugary beverages for 10 weeks displayed a 17% decrease in insulin sensitivity.

The sugar-laden drinks have long been known to cause obesity, which is linked to an array of different health problems.

The research suggests drinking just one 330ml can of soft drink can cause your blood pressure to spike as many of them contain 14 more grams than your daily recommended sugar intake.

Experts have discovered that sugar-sweetened drinks are linked to a metabolic syndrome - a cluster of risk factors that raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The World Health Organisation estimates there are about 19 million deaths worldwide each year due to metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
The analysis revealed that most studies strongly show that frequent intake of these beverages contributes to the onset of the metabolic syndrome, diabetes and hypertension."

It is generally recommended that sugar intakes should only be about five per cent of your daily energy intake.

So that means no more than seven teaspoons per day for the average adult - the equivalent to a small glass of fruit juice and flavoured yoghurt each day.

Children should be consuming far less than that.

Kids aged two and under should have just 3 teaspoons per day, kids aged three to six should have no more than four teaspoons a day and kids between seven and 10 should have no more than six teaspoons.

References:
www.mirror.co.uk
http://www.medicaldaily.com
https://www.thesun.co.uk
http://www.hindustantimes.com