Sodas are the number one source of calories in the American diet, according to "The Journal of the American Medical Association." These calories consist entirely of the refined carbohydrates provided by sugar, which have a detrimental effect on health and aging. Even one soda a day provides an unacceptable amount of sugar if you are interested in maximizing nutrition for optimal aging.
Refined Sugar and Insulin
Drinking soda raises blood glucose levels. A 2008 study published in the "Annals of Neurology" discovered that in the elderly, elevated blood sugar levels caused dysfunction in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning, resulting in memory decline. The brain is not the only organ affected by a high intake of sugar, however. High levels of insulin create oxidative stress, which accelerates the overall aging process, according to a 2000 article published in "Free Radical Biology and Medicine."
Obesity
Several studies indicate that sugar-sweetened soda consumption and obesity are related, according to Dr. Caroline Apovian at Boston University School of Medicine. Obesity can accelerate the aging process by placing stress on bones and joints, causing skin to lose its elasticity and upsetting the body's hormonal balance. People who are obese also experience a greater number of diseases related to aging, such as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Lack of Micronutrients
The calories from soda often replace calories from more nutritious foods and drinks such as fruits, vegetables and milk. As a result, your body can develop a deficiency in one or more nutrients. An insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals can result in an "abnormal metabolism in the brain and decreased production of neurotransmitters, leading to deterioration of neuropsychiatric function," according to an article published in the journal "Anti-Aging Medicine." Soda consumption also might displace antioxidants, which offer protection against age-related diseases.
Alternatives
If you want to preserve your youth, choose drinks that are low in sugar. You can still get the enjoyable fizz of soda by drinking carbonated water flavored with lime or other fruit juices. Avoid undiluted fruit juice, which is also very high in sugar and so has many of the same effects as soda. If you drink soda, choose soda sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners such as stevia, which is a plant extract. Nonfat milk and tea are beverages that won't promote aging. And filtered water may be the best choice for hydrating your body and keeping it healthy.
References
- "Annals of Neurology"; The brain in the age of old: The Hippocampal Formation Is Targeted Differentially by Diseases of Late Life; William Wu, et al.; December 23, 2008
- "Free Radical Biology and Medicine"; Hyperinsulinemia -- The Missing Link Among Oxidative Stress and Age-Related Diseases?; F.S. Facchini, et al.; December 15, 2000
- "The Journal of the American Medical Association"; Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks, Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes; Caroline Apovian; 2004
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