Sugary drinks like sodas, fruit juices, and sweetened teas . . . increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, even in people who are not carrying excess body fat (2Trusted Source).
Sugar-sweetened beverages are also uniquely harmful for children, as they can contribute not only to obesity in children but also to conditions that usually do not develop until adulthood, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Healthier alternatives include:
-
- water
- unsweetened teas
- sparkling water
- coffee