Increase Cellular Aging

Telomeres are structures found at the ends of chromosomes, which contain part or all of your genetic information. Telomeres serve as protective caps on chromosomes, keeping them from deteriorating or fusing. Telomeres normally shorten as you get older, causing cells to age and malfunction.

While telomere shortening is a natural part of aging, bad lifestyle choices can accelerate the process. Sugar consumption has been proven to accelerate telomere shortening, which increases cellular aging. Research on 5,309 people found that drinking sugar-sweetened drinks on a frequent basis was linked to lower telomere length and cellular aging. In fact, independent of other variables, each daily 20-ounce (591-ml) consumption of sugar-sweetened soda equated to 4.6 additional years of aging.