Today I wanted to share a few tips with you about your smile, and now it’s connected to your heart.
Did you know that sipping on soda might be undoing all the positive progress from your workouts?
Don’t get me wrong, I personally enjoy a diet soda now and again, but consuming them on a regular basis could age your body faster. My advice, be a “social soda drinker” occasionally instead.
According to a new study from the Université Laval in Quebec City, even just two cans of soda a week could cancel out the heart-healthy perks of your exercise routine.
So, here’s the scoop: those delicious fizzy drinks loaded with sugar might taste great, but they could be doing some serious damage to your pearly whites and your ticker.
Even if you drink diet beverages instead of sugary drinks, it could be just as bad too. Studies have shown diet drinks deteriorating or weakening our bones. This can’t affect not only your current veneers or dental implants, but potentially cosmetic work you have done in the future.
And get this— the research is showing that even if you’re hitting your weekly workout goals, the sugary stuff can still sneak up on you and wreak havoc on your heart.
Professor Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier, one of the researchers behind the study, laid it out plain and simple: “Physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with sugar-sweetened beverages by half, but it does not fully eliminate it.”
Translation? Even if you’re keeping up it in the gym, those sugary sodas are still packing a punch to your heart health.
The marketing hype around these drinks often shows fit folks sipping away, making it seem like downing a soda won’t do any harm if you’re active. But even just two sodas a week can put your heart at risk, no matter how much you hit the gym.
Now, you might be thinking, “But I only have a couple of sodas a week! That can’t be so bad, right?” According to the researchers, even that seemingly small amount can spell trouble for your heart in the long run.
Lead study author Lorena Pacheco summed it up perfectly: “Our findings provide further support for public health recommendations and policies to limit people’s intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as to encourage people to meet and maintain adequate physical activity levels.” In other words, cut back on the sugary drinks and keep moving to keep your heart happy!
And hey, if you’re thinking of swapping out those sugary sodas for their artificially sweetened cousins, think again. While they might not pack the same sugar punch, they’re still not as heart-friendly as good old H2O.
So, what’s the bottom line? Skip the sodas during the week, and stick to water for a healthier smile, a happier heart, and a body that’s ready to take on the world!
Have a great week,
Pinecrest Dental
