Pregnancy diabetes on the rise from sugary cokes

Sodas are a part of modern life. But like all sugar-heavy foods, moderation is the key. This is especially true for women planning a family. A new study finds that women who drink more than 5 servings per week of sugary cokes pre-conception raise their risk for developing diabetes during pregnancy (http://www.beveragedaily.com/Industry-Markets/Regular-cola-drinking-link...). Glucose (or sugar) intolerance in women is one of the most common complications in pregnancy and increases the chances of lifelong diabetes in women. It can also cause permanent effects on the unborn child. Babies born to gestationally diabetic women have higher birth weight and higher rates of obesity and diabetes early in life.

Rather strangely only cola, and not other sugary drinks or artificially sweetened drinks are associated with the increased risk. Could this be the combination of caffeine and sugar during pregnancy is too much for the woman’s system?

Sugar-sweetened drinks are a major cause of obesity. Many people drink sodas instead of water. In fact, sugar-sweetened beverages are the leading source of added sugar in the U.S. diet. Soft drink intake more than doubled between 1977 and 2001 among 19-39 year-olds in America, from 4.1% to 9.8%, and this age group also has the highest rate of soft drink consumption!

Water is the best beverage and what our body craves. People substitute colas for water and actually dehydrate their body as the caffeine found in cola is a diuretic. Adopting a healthy and varied vegetarian diet relaxes the palate, thereby reducing the craving for so many sugary drinks. Eating whole grains gives sustained energy reducing the craving for caffeine.

As people reduce their sugary cola intake, this naturally will reduce gestational diabetes, obesity, and our national health care costs, thereby making health care more affordable for all.

Think how much change you can effect by choosing water over coke!

Thanks for reading.