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Sodas, sweet teas, energy drinks, flavored waters, and even some bottled iced coffees are loaded with added sugars and sodium. Regular intake can lead to obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and fat buildup in the liver.
One long-term study published in Circulation found that consuming just one sugary drink daily increased the risk of heart attack or death by 20%.
Another study linked daily soft drink consumption to almost double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Even a nutritious meal like grilled fish and vegetables can be undermined by drinking sugary sodas alongside it.
Healthier options include water, herbal teas, lemon-flavored sparkling water, or homemade smoothies using unsweetened plant-based milk.
2. Too Much Alcohol
While light drinking—especially red wine—has been linked to potential heart benefits, overindulging is clearly harmful.
Excessive alcohol raises blood pressure, weakens the heart muscle, encourages plaque buildup in arteries, and increases the risk of arrhythmias, strokes, and alcohol-related heart disease.
It also hampers nutrient absorption (especially B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin C), contributes to inflammation, leaky gut, and may even increase can.cer risk.
Sticking to moderate intake—up to one drink per day for women and two for men—is key. Binge drinking, even just once a week, can be as damaging as regular overconsumption.
3. Fruit Juices
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