(RxWiki News) Sugary drinks have become widely consumed and popular among people of all ages - especially among teens. Drinking too many of these beverages can cause serious health problems though.
Large consumption of sugary drinks has been linked to a poor quality diet, weight gain, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers surveyed America to see just how many Americans are consuming sugary drinks like sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks and sweetened bottled waters.
"Drink less soda and more water."
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2008, nearly half of all Americans drink sugary drinks on any given day. Men tend to drink more sugary beverages than females and teenagers between 12 and 19 drink the most, consuming on average 273 calories per day.
There was also a difference found between races. African American children and adolescents drink more sugary drinks than Mexican Americans and both of those groups drink more than their white counterparts.
On average, people who earn a lower income drink more sugary drinks than those who make a higher income.
The researchers also studied where the drinks were coming from. More than half of all sugar drinks were coming from homes where 92 percent are purchased from stores. Only six percent of drinks were purchased at restaurants or fast-food joints. The remaining percentage that wasn't consumed at home came from restaurants, fast food joints and a small percentage from schools or day cares.
Diane Shiao, P.T., M.S.P.T., D.P.T., says "It's best to avoid sugary drinks with high sugar contents or to limit their consumption to a minimum. Even though many Americans prefer these tasty, cheap drinks, there is a downside. Most of these drinks contain white sugars that can cause inflammation in the body. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can play a role in the development of diseases such as heart disease and cancer."
The American Heart Association recommends that people only drink 450 calories per week, which is equivalent to three or less 12 ounce cans. So drink less sodas to avoid extra, unwanted calories.
