Soda, Sugary Drinks Linked to Belly Fat

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There are people who are wondering why they develop a deep tummy fat in a very short span of time. The answer for that is because they consumed too much sugary drinks such as fruit juice or soda. That is not the only negative effect of sugary beverages; it also develops body fats that can be linked to heart disease and diabetes.

According to Consumer Health Day, the new study involved 1,000 adults in the Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts came up in a conclusion that people who consume at least one sweetened drink per day will develop a deep belly fat in the course of six years.

In the study, the people who said they drink at least one sweetened beverage a day appeared to have more visceral fat compared to those who stated that they do not usually consumed sugary drink.

There have been many research in the past involving sugary drinks linked to different diseases. However, the new study provides a mechanism as to why.

According to the researchers, visceral fat is the type of fat that surrounds several vital organs in the abdominal area that can be very unhealthy if it continuously grows as reported in the journal, Circulation.

According to the American Heart Association, a 12-ounce of sweetened soda could contain up to 132 calories.

The study also suggested that people who consume too much sweetened beverages most probably have other unhealthy lifestyle.

"People who consume a lot of added sugar also tend to eat fewer vegetables, get less exercise, and be more likely to smoke," an expert said.

According to a report by Reuters, as recommended by the American Heart Association, most women should not go beyond 100 calories of added sugars per day, while most men should not go beyond 150 per day. These are the calories found in beverages that are sweetened.

"Drinking one 12-ounce soft drink a day would exceed that amount - and while they are a major source, sugar-sweetened beverages contribute only about half of the added sugar consumed by Americans," an expert said.

Jean Welsh of Emory University in Georgia said that water and milk remain to be the best beverages to out there. They are still the healthiest to consume compared to diet sodas.

"Sugary beverage consumers who are looking to reduce their sugar and calorie consumption may find that diet soda consumption helps - but only as long as they are careful to not eat more of something else, she added.