It might be time to rethink that sugary drink, one lifestyle physician suggests

WASHINGTON (7News) — If you enjoy syrup in your coffee or a can of soda to start the day, you might want to rethink that drink.

7News Health and Wellness Reporter Victoria Sanchez spoke with lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Julie Chen of Kaiser Permanente about some shocking side effects of sugar.

An article published in the journal Nature Medicine found in 2020 there were more than 2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide, directly attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages. More than 1 million new cases of cardiovascular disease were also tied to the drinks.

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Dr. Chen finds if kids start consuming sugary drinks at a young age, it's a hard habit to break.

“We’re talking about sodas, sweet teas?” asked Sanchez.

“Energy drinks, sports related drinks that people will often use to rehydrate after they’ve been active. Even, unfortunately, fruit juices are very high in simple sugars. So, I highly encourage all of my adult patients who are parents to discourage the drinks that are high in sugar, even fruit juices and instead, focus on drinking more water," explained Dr. Chen.

Many sugary drinks are marketed to kids using cartoons and bright colors. Dr. Chen suggests putting lemon or cucumber in plain water to encourage kids to drink it. She said seltzer water is also a good option.