Sodas have an impact on DNA components, which is associated with accelerated cellular aging.
- Some sodas contain more than 30 g of sugar per 25 cl of drink.
- According to the authors, cellular aging linked to sodas can affect all individuals regardless of their age, gender or social background.
Sugary drinks are bad for your health: their high sugar level is harmful to your nutritional balance, teeth and life expectancy. Several scientific teams have conducted research on the effects of these foods on cells and their aging.
Accelerated aging at the cellular level
In 2014, a team of American researchers looked at the effects of sugary drinks on cell aging. To carry out this work, published in American Journal of Public Health, they observed a sample of more than 5,300 adults, aged 20 to 65. All provided information about their diet, so that the researchers could determine their average soda consumption. At the same time, they collected DNA samples to observe their cells.
The study authors found that people who consumed more sodas had shorter telomeres. These small elements are found at the end of the chromosomes. When they shorten, the cells age and then die. In people consuming fruit juices with no added sugar, telomeres were longer. For researchers, this means that the consumption of sodas accelerates cellular aging.
Multiple consequences, all related to aging
More recently, other scientists have worked on the effects of sodas on metabolism. “A growing body of evidence suggests that diet is an important factor in healthy agingthey point out in Current Nutrition Reports. Et the consumption of sugary drinks, a major source of added sugars, has harmful consequences on the health of aging people, in particular because of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.“
Their work confirms this statement: they have found that sugary drinks accelerate aging and cause biological phenomena such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, imbalance of the intestinal flora or insulin resistance. However, all these pathologies can also increase aging. “Replacing sugary drinks with healthier beverages is a good solution to reduce the risk of chronic disease in the aging population, and even to extend life expectancy.“, they conclude.
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