Soda Consumption and Metabolic Health

Introduction to Soda Consumption

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people minimize consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and replace them with water as much as possible to control glycemia, weight, and reduce cardiovascular disease risk 3
The American Heart Association suggests that low-calorie sweetened beverages may serve as a short-term replacement strategy for those who regularly consume sugar-sweetened beverages, but the ultimate goal should be to decrease both sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages with emphasis on water intake 4, 5, 3

Regular soda drinkers who consume one or more sodas daily are at a higher risk of being overweight or obese, and diet soda consumption has been associated with a higher relative risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2
Nonnutritive sweeteners can reduce overall calorie intake only if not compensated by additional calories from other food sources, as stated by the American Diabetes Association 5, 3

The American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association recommend recognizing the displacement effect, where both regular and diet sodas displace healthier, more nutrient-dense beverage and food choices, contributing to poor overall diet quality 4