Soft drinks linked to pancreatic cancer?

A recent study has found that people who consume two or more soft drinks a week have an 87% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.*

The study, which defined soft drinks as sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks, followed over 60,000 Singapore based men and women in for over a decade.  While people who regularly consume carbonated sugar-sweetened drinks tend to have a poor overall health behaviour profile, the effects of the high levels of sugar on pancreatic cancer may be unique.  Ultimately the researchers concluded that the regular consumption of soft drinks could raise insulin levels, which in turn fuels the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.

Last year in the US, over 42,000 men and women were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with over 35,000 deaths.  In the UK, the figures are lower with 14,700 diagnosed men and women and 7,750 deaths.**

If you’re health conscious, it’s likely you’re already aware of the health dangers associated with soft drinks (weight gain and tooth decay to name a few) and you’re probably limiting your intake.  Keep it up, and try to stick to less than two a week!  What if you’re a cola addict?  Well, now might be a good time to re-evaluate your intake and try to make some substitutions.

The goods news is that the study found no such link for fruit juice consumption – so dilute your favourite juice with un-flavoured sparkling water (with no added ingredients!) for ultimate peace of mind.

Good luck!

* As compared to people who did not consume two or more soft drinks a week.
** Figures as published by the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund