Drinking water rather than fizzy drinks reduces diabetes risk

A new study by scientists in the United States has shown that drinking water instead of fizzy sweet drinks can significantly lower the chances of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The research, carried out at Harvard University in conjunction with the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk (ICCR), found that swapping to a diet involving water rather than sugary drinks can mean less weight is put on as well as there being a 7 per cent less risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, commented “There is convincing evidence that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of obesity and diabetes, and emerging evidence that these beverages increase the risk for heart disease.”
He added “To reduce risk of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, it is important to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and replace them with healthier choices such as water and unsweetened tea or coffee.”
The findings follow recent statements from the NHS that there is now an estimated 2.8 million people in the UK that suffer from type 2 diabetes, and there are thought to be about 26 million people in the UK that could be obese by the year 2030.