Dietitians Urge Americans to Cut 40-Gram Sodas as More Than Half Drink Sugary Beverages Daily
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Aug 9
Dietitians Urge Americans to Cut 40-Gram Sodas as More Than Half Drink Sugary Beverages Daily
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Aug 9
Summary
More than half of Americans drink sugary beverages daily, and dietitians at a Washington nutrition conference said cutting them is one of the simplest ways to improve health.
About 40 grams of sugar in a typical soda can nearly consume the 25-50 gram daily added-sugar limit, helping drive sharp blood-sugar swings and higher risks of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, tooth decay, liver and kidney damage.
Cancer researchers cited sugary drinks as especially concerning among ultra-processed foods, with studies linking higher sugar intake to greater cancer risk; one expert said only processed red meat shows a stronger consistent association.
Diet soda may reduce sugar intake but is not clearly risk-free, as emerging evidence links sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and stevia to gut-microbiome disruption and possible metabolic or heart effects.
Plain water remains the top recommendation, with seltzer, 100% juice, unsweetened coffee and tea suggested as better substitutes for soda, energy drinks, sports drinks and sweetened coffees.