Scientists have long known that those who regularly drink fizzy drinks, such as Cola and Sprite, are more likely to suffer from a range of heart and dental problems, compared to those who opt for water.
But now research has revealed the worst culprits: some cans contain five times more sugar and four times more calories than others.
The unhealthiest of the bunch is Cherry Coke, which contains almost three teaspoons of sugar and almost the same calories as three chocolate chip cookies.
However, if your drink of choice is traditional American soda, you may not be as prone to negative health consequences.
One 13-ounce can of Barr American Cream Soda contains less than two teaspoons of sugar and less than 10 calories.
Lemonade fans are in luck, too: One can of R-Whites Premium Lemonade contains two teaspoons of sweetness and fewer calories than an apple.
NHS guidelines recommend consuming no more than six teaspoons of ‘free’ sugars per day, which means sugars found in cakes, sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks.
Just behind the cherry version, the original was also found to have a high amount of sugar, a teaspoon more than a Mars bar, but about the same calories as the cherry version.
In 2023, more than 3.2 billion cans of carbonated drinks will be sold in the UK.
He analysis It has also highlighted how energy drinks vary depending on sugar content. For example, you’ll get a little more sugar in Red Bull for the same amount of regular Coke and about the same calories.
While a large can of Monster doesn’t differ much in terms of sugar, it will cost you 235 calories, about 100 more than a Red Bull, even though it’s twice the size.
The best thing is that a 380 ml bottle of Lucozade contains about half the sugar as cans of Coca-Cola, but about the same calories.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, high-caffeine energy drinks have previously been linked to five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack.
More than 3.2 billion cans of carbonated drinks were sold in the UK in 2023, and experts have long warned that the “empty” calories they contain are to blame for thousands of people’s increasing waistlines.
A 2010 study by experts at Harvard University found that people who drink a can or more per day of sugary drinks have a 26 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The condition can develop when the body becomes less effective at storing and controlling blood sugar, which is the function of the hormone insulin.

Almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/22, according to the latest UK figures. And another 850,000 people have diabetes and are completely unaware of it, which is worrying because untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease and stroke.
“It gets to the point where the body’s cells receive so much insulin that they become disordered and can’t handle it anymore,” nutritional therapist Jeannette Hyde told the Telegraph.
Emerging evidence suggests that drinking a lot of sugary drinks may also increase the risk of heart disease because they are thought to increase triglycerides, a type of fat that can thicken the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
High sugar consumption, especially from sugary drinks, has also been shown to cause fat accumulation in the liver, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and potentially, according to some research, an increased risk of liver cancer.
Experts have debated whether it would be beneficial to swap your favorite sugary drink for a sugar-free alternative.
“They are a great first step for someone who wants to reduce their sugar consumption,” public health nutritionist Beth Bradshaw told the Telegraph.
Recent studies have found that artificial sweeteners used in soft drinks, such as aspartame and sucralose, can also cause insulin resistance over time.
Professor Tim Spector, the brains behind the ZOE diet app, wrote for MailOnline: “Artificial sweeteners are not found in nature, most come from the petrochemical industry and are not inert, harmless substances.”