Latest From Our Blog

Daily sugary drink may lead to dangerous soda gut

Daily sugary drink may lead to dangerous soda gut

by Shara Rutberg, New Hope Media

We can add another risk to the negative impacts sugary drinks have on our health: visceral fat. Let’s call it “soda gut,” and tag it on along with the increased risk of osteoporosis, diabetes, asthma, tooth decay and obesity that comes with chugging the sweet stuff.

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages like soda daily may lead to more abdominal fat gain over time, according to a study published in the journal Circulation. Belly fat can be particularly insidious, as it wraps around internal organs like the liver and pancreas and affects the function of hormones like insulin. Insulin dysfunction is closely tied to the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

“A lot of prior studies have looked at sugar-sweetened beverages and obesity,” lead author Dr. Caroline S. Fox, a special volunteer with the National Institutes of Health and a former investigator with the Framingham Heart Study of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, told Reuters. “We looked at body fat distribution, in particular change over time.”

Fox and her team used data from about 1,000 adult participants in the Framingham Heart Study who answered food frequency questions about sugar-sweetened beverages and diet soda. At the beginning of the study, they underwent a computed tomography scan to measure quantity and volume of abdominal fat tissue. Six years later, they underwent another scan.

Over that period, visceral fat volume increased by 658 cubic centimeters for non-drinkers of sugary beverages, slightly more for occasional and frequent drinkers, and by 852 cubic centimeters for daily drinkers of sugary beverages.

“That’s probably a very small difference of actual visceral fat,” but it’s enough to make a difference for metabolic risk, according to other studies, she said.

A.J. Ali

A.J. Ali, "The Wellness Motivator!" is an award-winning writer, producer, actor, host, voice over artist, emcee and creative visionary. He is the Founder and Executive Producer of EclipseVSC since 1999. A.J. is currently producing and hosting the multimedia wellness entity "Wellness 101" with a vision of helping to change the focus of healthcare in America from sickness to wellness (www.wellness101life.com). To launch the Wellness 101 brand, A.J. did the impossible. Starting with only $500, he traveled through all 50 states in 101 days June 16 through September 24, 2014 -- starting in Melbourne Beach, FL and ending up on a sun soaked beach in Hawaii after changing lives in all 50 states. His "True Champion's 30-Day Challenge" book is transforming lives nationwide (www.TrueChampions30DayChallenge.com). Now, Wellness 101 is taking human transformation to another level through holistic wellness. A.J. has more than 30 years experience in sports and entertainment as an athlete, artist and social entrepreneur. He has founded and owned two pro soccer teams and has spearheaded hundreds of successful projects. A.J. created and starred in the TV show "Good Fellas of Baltimore" on Fox in 2011, which raised more than $250,000 for charities in Baltimore and inspired fans to join the cast to help people in need. As an on-air talent and voice over artist, his enthusiastic love of people makes him believable and inspirational. As a wellness speaker and emcee, he is inspiring. An accomplished writer with a conversational style, his work is transformative. His 2007 song "Through the Darkness, Into the Light," compilation music CD "Survivor Celebration" and Survivor Celebration campaign helping cancer survivors won the coveted Hollywood FAME Award for National Community Service. As a philanthropist and entrepreneur, A.J. has raised more than $25 million for charities. He teaches his charity event success methods through a workshop called "MAKE IT RAIN." He is proud to be a U.S. Air Force Veteran (83-87). His mantra is "LOVE is the answer." He is an avid golfer.

No Comments

Leave a Comment