Drinking soda harms fertility, researchers discover

Drinking soda is linked to decrease in fertility, study finds.Pixabay/ Lernestorod

A new study published in the scientific journal of Epidemiology has found that daily consumption of soda greatly reduces fertility rate in both men and women.

Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) found that the intake of any beverage sweetened with sugar resulted in the drop of fertility rates.

The study details that females who consumed at least one sugary beverage a day had a 20 percent decline in fecundity while men, with the same habits, had a 33 percent decline in fertility.

In a statement from Boston University, Professor of Epidemiology and pioneer author Elizabeth Hatch said that the positive association of sugar-sweetened drinks toward declining fertility rates in men and women remained consistent even after controlling for many other factors such as obesity, caffeine intake, smoking, overall diet, and alcohol intake.

Hatch advised couples who are trying to conceive to shy away from these beverages not only for its role in decreased fertility but more so for its adverse effects to one's health.

The investigators say that with the increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the United States, the study could prove to be beneficial to improving public health.

According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sugary drinks hold the top most spot on the list of added sugars that Americans consume on a daily basis.

The U.S.' current dietary guideline suggests that the intake of calories from added sugars should be limited to only 10 percent a day and should not go over that specific margin.

In recent years, several studies have linked excess sugar intake with a myriad of diseases and health conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

For interested readers, you can access the entirety of the study by clicking here.