New studies link Coca-Cola to liver, heart, and diabetes risks.
New research is taking a closer look at Coca-Cola and raising renewed concerns about what happens inside the body when the drink is consumed often. While soda has long been known for its high sugar content, scientists are now tying regular intake more clearly to fatty liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. These findings add weight to long standing warnings about sugary drinks and suggest the risks may be broader and more serious than many people realize.
A single can of regular Coca-Cola contains a large amount of added sugar, delivered quickly into the bloodstream. Within minutes of drinking it, blood sugar levels rise sharply. The body responds by releasing insulin to help move sugar out of the blood and into cells. When this happens over and over again, the system becomes strained. Over time, cells may stop responding to insulin as well as they should, setting the stage for insulin resistance and eventually Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have also focused on how excess sugar affects the liver. Unlike other organs, the liver processes much of the sugar that comes from sweetened drinks. When sugar intake is high and constant, the liver converts extra sugar into fat. This fat can build up inside liver cells, leading to fatty liver disease. This condition was once mostly linked to heavy alcohol use, but it is now increasingly seen in people who drink large amounts of sugary beverages.
Heart health is another major concern raised by recent studies. High sugar intake has been linked to weight gain, higher blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Together, these changes raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A large study published in a leading medical journal connected millions of cases of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes worldwide to sugar sweetened drinks. Other researchers have pointed directly to the sugary drink industry as a contributor to these health problems.
Coca-Cola also contains caffeine, which can affect how often people reach for another can. Caffeine can increase alertness and create mild stimulation, but it can also lead to dependence when consumed daily. Some regular soda drinkers report headaches, tiredness, or irritability when they try to stop. Because of this, health experts note that reducing intake slowly may help ease withdrawal from both sugar and caffeine.
In the United Kingdom, some health professionals are also criticizing the way Coca-Cola is labeled. The drink has received green traffic light ratings under the current food labeling system, which some experts say gives a false sense of safety. They argue that the labels do not reflect how much sugar is in a typical serving or the health effects linked to regular use. According to one registered dietitian, the sugar levels are so high that the drink should not be marketed as a normal daily choice.
Beyond personal health, Coca-Cola is also under pressure for its environmental impact. The company is the largest producer of branded plastic waste in the world. Although steps have been taken to reduce plastic use and improve recycling, critics say progress has been slow and the overall footprint remains large.
Taken together, the growing body of research paints a clearer picture of the risks tied to frequent Coca-Cola consumption. The concern is not about an occasional soda, but about habits formed over years. As scientists continue to study sugar sweetened drinks, the message is becoming harder to ignore. Regular intake may quietly damage the liver, strain the heart, and disrupt blood sugar control, while also contributing to broader environmental problems.
Sources:
Coca-Cola under fire as health experts uncover hidden dangers: ‘It shouldn’t be allowed to be sold’
Coca-Cola’s sweet deception: how the world’s most iconic brand hid the risks of sugar
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