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Soft Drink Consumption May Increase Your Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer

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Medical professionals have warned us for years about the link between soft drinks and obesity.  A recent study kicked the soft drink debate up a notch by revealing that consuming two or more soft drinks a week can significantly increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer.  The study, which was published in the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, included 60,5224 men and women who were followed for five years.  According to the study, people who drink sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks are 87 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.  Researchers believe the high levels of sugar in soft drinks increase the level of insulin in the body, which can lead to pancreatic cell growth.

According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause for cancer deaths in the US each year.  It is very difficult to treat and only five percent of people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are alive five years later.

The United States leads the world in soft drink consumption, with the average American drinking 150 quarts per year. Soft drinks were considered a menace to our health long before the link to pancreatic cancer was discovered. The high sugar content in soft drinks is a major culprit in the epidemic of obesity in our nation, especially among children and young adults. Carbonated soft drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet. One can of soda contains about a quarter cup of sugar. That’s about 150 empty calories.  Soft drinks also act as diuretics, robbing the body of essential hydration. While diet soft drinks do not contain sugar, they do contain Aspartame, which has been linked to depression, insomnia, neurological disease and many other illnesses.

In an effort to reduce soft drink consumption among young people, many school systems across the country have banned soft drink sales on campus and several states have developed legislation to enact excise taxes on carbonated sodas.  The hope is that the taxes would reduce consumption and the revenue from the taxes would be earmarked for disease prevention programs, especially in low-income communities.

Because of the well-documented health risks associated with soft drinks, it is important to seek out healthy alternatives. Of course, the best and most refreshing beverage we can consume is water. In addition to plain water there are also many flavored waters on the market containing, lemon, lime, orange or other fruit essence. Read labels and avoid the ones with artificial flavors and sweeteners. A refreshing glass of iced herb tea is another tasty alternative to soft drinks. Find a healthy alternative that works for you so you can avoid the hazards (and calories) associated with soft drink consumption.