Fizzy drinks alter the body's metabolism and increase blood sugar levels

Fizzy drinks can alter the body’s metabolism and lead to lifelong health problems, according to a new study.

Scientists at Bangor University discovered that drinking fizzy pop for a month causes the muscles to use sugar for energy instead of fat, making it harder for drinkers to lose weight.

The researchers supplemented the diets of 11 lightly active people in their twenties with sugary soft drinks for a month.

The blood and muscle tissue of the participants were tested before and after the study, as well as their whole body metabolism and composition.

After just a month, the muscle cells of the volunteers responded to the sugary diet and created an ineffective metabolism, raising blood sugar levels and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Lead author Dr Kubis said: “Not only can regular sugar intake acutely change our body metabolism; in fact it seems that our muscles are able to sense the sugars and make our metabolism more inefficient, not only in the present but in the future as well."

“This will lead a reduced ability to burn fat and to fat gain. Moreover, it will make it more difficult for our body to cope with rises in blood sugar.”

The researchers are hoping to carry out a bigger study with more participants over a long period of time, but say that people should always drink water instead of fizzy drinks.