Sugary sodas alone or combined with smoking increase risk of lung disease.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to poor health outcomes such as heart disease and stroke. Researchers in Australia have recently found that sugary drinks are associated with an increased risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Though this cross-sectional study does not prove that sodas are the cause of these problems, it does offer some interesting results. Those who drank at least half a liter per day were twice as likely to develop either lung condition (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.60) compared to those who drank none. Those who drank soda and smoked showed a 6.6 fold increase in risk.

PositiveTip: Sodas are not necessary for human survival. Why are you drinking them?

Sugar-laden beverages may raise blood pressure.

Sugar-sweetened sodas and fruit juice may increase blood pressure according to British researchers who looked at 2,696 U.S. and U.K. participants. For each additional sugary beverage per day systolic blood pressure rose 1.6 mmHg and diastolic by 0.8 mmHg (p<0.001 for both). Perhaps these "empty calories" are displacing calories from the nutrient dense foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. More research is needed.

PositiveTip: None of us really need sugar-sweetened beverages for health. Drink plain water instead of that calorie dense beverage, and eat another serving of delicious fruit.