While the number of highly processed foods have increased, the health stats have declined even further. While processed foods are to blame, there is another item that has been flying under the health raider, sodas. These fizzy drinks may not be a part of your daily life, but they are worse than you think! One of the biggest appeals of sodas and beverages is that sugary and fizzy taste of them. Because they are easier to consume and the sugary taste has an addictive effect, people buy more and more of it, without realizing that amount of sugar.

One thing that made people realize how much sugar they had been consuming was when videos of people boiling these fizzy drinks surfaced. Those videos showed that as soon as all the liquid vapored off, the residue was just burnt sugar.

Sugary drinks like sodas and, energy drinks are popular worldwide, but new research shows they're seriously harming our health. These drinks are linked to millions of new cases of diabetes and heart disease each year. Sadly, developing countries are hit the hardest. This study shows how big of a problem sugary drinks are globally and why we need to do something about it. It’s a call to action for better health worldwide.

Sugary Drinks, Diabetes, and Heart Disease

Sugary drinks are beverages with added sugars, like soda, juice drinks, and sweetened teas. While sales are down in some places, they're rising in others. Researchers studied millions of people across many countries and found a strong link between drinking these beverages and developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. These drinks contribute to a significant number of new cases each year, especially in certain parts of the world. This means that cutting back on these drinks could greatly improve health globally.

Sugary drinks are quickly digested because they're liquid, causing a fast rise in blood sugar. They also pack a lot of calories without making you feel full, which can lead to overeating. Unlike other treats, they don't offer much nutrition besides sugar. This combination of factors can lead to weight gain, problems with how your body uses sugar (insulin resistance), and other health issues that increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It’s not just about the calories, but the type of calories and how our bodies process them.

Sodas have an addictive nature because the main ingredients are caffeine and sugar. The reason why people like consuming them is because they were built to trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. The hormone dopamine is a feel-good hormone that makes you feel happy and good, which makes you feel like consuming it more!

What We Can Do to Cut Back on Sugary Drinks

To protect our health, we should drink fewer sugary drinks. Healthier options include water, unsweetened tea or coffee, and sparkling water. Even diet soda is a better choice than regular soda, but it's best to limit those too. Reading labels is important to know what you’re drinking. Governments can also help by taxing sugary drinks, putting warning labels on them, and restricting their sale in places like schools. These actions can make a big difference in reducing consumption and improving public health. There are many ways you can avoid getting addicted to sugary drinks,

Avoid Using It As A Reward

When you give the position of a reward to things, you are actively making your brain think it is a good thing and that can trigger a dependence on it.

Don’t Use It To Make You Feel Happy

We all have days when you feel low and do not like how things are going, in days like those you feel like having a comfort food or drink, which can make it a crutch and is a one way street to addiction

Drink A Lot Of Water

Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to keep your addiction as bay, sometimes you may as well need some water to keep you straight and not stray from their path.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently urged Indian households to reduce their cooking oil consumption by at least 10 per cent.

While the appeal is part of a broader strategy to decrease India’s heavy reliance on imports, which currently accounts for 65 per cent of its edible oil needs, and comes amid the escalating Iran-US war, health experts said that this should become the norm in the country, burdened with chronic diseases.

High consumption of edible oils, particularly those high in saturated and trans fats like palm oil, is strongly linked to a higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

These NCDs are also the leading cause of mortality in India, accounting for approximately 63–66 per cent of all deaths.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce oil consumption is not just a temporary health message, but a lifestyle habit every Indian family should adopt permanently. Excessive oil intake has become one of the major contributors to rising obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease cases in India, especially among younger populations,” Dr. Arvind Dambalkar, Senior Consultant & Head – Interventional Cardiology, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, told HealthandMe.

Dr. Madhu Nahar Roy, Director, Internal Medicine - Paras Health Udaipur, added that the message on reducing oil consumption is timely, especially as lifestyle diseases continue to rise across India.

PM Modi’s Call To Reduce Oil Intake

PM Modi first urged Indians to reduce cooking oil consumption by 10 per cent during his 79th Independence Day address, highlighting the need to tackle the rapidly rising burden of obesity and lifestyle diseases in India.

"In the coming years, obesity can become a major challenge for our country," the Prime Minister said. "If every family decides to reduce the use of cooking oil by 10 per cent, it will benefit the health of the nation."

Also read: India Launches SEHAT Mission To Connect Farming With Nutrition And Health

Again, in April, on World Health Day, he reiterated that adopting healthier eating habits, such as reducing oil usage, is “not just a personal decision but a social responsibility”.

He called for immediate action to prevent such a scenario and proposed a simple change: "I want to take a promise from you today that we all should reduce our cooking oil by 10 per cent. This will be a big step towards reducing obesity."

India's NCD Burden

India now ranks second globally in the number of overweight and obese children, according to the World Obesity Atlas.

If current trends continue, nearly 56 million children in the country could be affected by 2040.

As per the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, India has 89.8 million adults diagnosed with diabetes, with projections suggesting that number will grow to a massive 156.7 million in 2050.

Further, in India, more than 1 in 4 people have hypertension, and cumulatively, more than 90 per cent of adults with hypertension are either undiagnosed, untreated, or treated but live with uncontrolled hypertension.

At the same time, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India, accounting for nearly 28 per cent of all deaths and 45 per cent of NCD deaths.

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The Ideal Amount of Oil And Mode of Cooking

Dr. Arvind noted that fried and processed foods increase unhealthy fat accumulation, disturb cholesterol levels, and put long-term stress on the heart.

“A family of four should limit edible oil consumption to around 3 to 4 liters per month, as recommended by health experts. Choosing balanced, home-cooked meals with controlled oil can significantly improve overall Cardiac Health,” he said.

The expert noted that refined oils are not inherently harmful, but excessive consumption and repeated reheating can increase unhealthy fat intake and inflammation.

“For Indian cooking, mustard oil is beneficial for traditional high-heat cooking due to its good fatty acid profile, olive oil works well for salads and light sautéing, while sunflower oil should be used in moderation and rotated with other oils,” Dr. Madhu told HealthandMe.

The expert also stated that adopting healthier cooking methods, such as air frying, steaming, roasting, and grilling, can help reduce excess calorie and fat consumption significantly.

Dozens of food products, including chocolates, snack mixes, popcorn, chips, and nuts, have been recalled in the US over the risk of salmonella contamination.

The recall is due to a specific ingredient — milk powder supplied by California Dairies — used in several products and snacks, particularly in seasonings.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the potentially tainted powdered milk and buttermilk were voluntarily recalled on April 20.

Which Products Have Been Recalled?

Ghirardelli Chocolate Powders:

• Chocolate Flavored Frappe
• Classic White Frappe
• Premium Hot Cocoa Pouch Bulk
• Chocolate & Cocoa Sweet Ground Powder
• White Chocolate Flavored Sweet Ground Powder
• Vanilla Frappe Mix
• Chocolate Flavored Frappe Mix
• Classic White Frappe Mix
• Chocolate Flavored Frappe Mix
• Classic White Frappe Mix
• White Mocha Frappe Mix
• Mocha Frappe Mix
• Frozen Hot Cocoa Frappe Mix

• Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
• Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
• Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
• Zapp's Brand Big Cheezy Potato Chip
• Zapp's Brand Big Cheezy Potato Chip
• Zapp's Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (60ct)
• Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
• Dirty Brand Maui Onion Potato Chip
• Dirty Brand Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips

• Bottles of Pork King Good Sour Cream & Onion Seasoning
• Bags of Pork King Good Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds
• Bags of Pork King Party Size Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds

• Fisher Tex Mex Trail Mix
• Southern Style Nuts Gourmet Hunter Mix
• Southern Style Nuts Gourmet Hunter Mix
• Southern Style Nuts Hunter Mix
• Squirrel Brand Travelers Mix
• Squirrel Brand Town & Country Mix
• Squirrel Brand Town & Country Mix
• Good & Gather Mexican Street, Corn Trail Mix
• Giant Eagle Pita Chips:
• Baked Pita Chips with Parmesan, Garlic & Herb

• Wildlife Seasoning Sour Cream & Onion Popcorn Topping
• Williams Sonoma-branded Popcorn Sampler Gift Box with White Cheddar Seasoning
• Fireworks Popcorn Poppings & Toppings gift set containing White Cheddar Seasoning

• Stoltzfus Family Dairy Sour Cream
• Onion Cheese Curds

• Culinary Circle Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Frozen Pizza
• Great Value Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Frozen Pizza
• Great Value Stuffed Chicken Bacon Ranch Frozen Pizza
• Mama Cozzi's Biscuit Crust Sausage & Cheese Frozen Breakfast Pizza
• Mama Cozzi's Biscuit Crust Cooked Pork Belly Crumbles, Cooked Bacon Topping, Pepper & Onion Frozen Breakfast Pizza

Also read:India Launches SEHAT Mission To Connect Farming With Nutrition And Health

The FDA urges people who purchased the products to throw them away or return them for a refund.

A separate Salmonella recall impacting 12 flavors of the popular chocolate brand Spring & Mulberry was also recently announced by the FDA, but appeared to be linked to a date supplier. It wasn't immediately clear if there was any connection to the California Dairies recall.

Another is a public health alert issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for headcheese over possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).

What Is Salmonella?

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As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. It can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps. It can also happen when people consume uncooked and raw food. Salmonella can also spread from animals to people.

The FDA notes that people who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles, can spread the bacteria from the animal to food if hand washing hygiene is not practiced.

Pets, too, could spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.

Common symptoms of Salmonella include

• diarrhea,
• fever,
• stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.

Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

In a major national initiative connecting agriculture, nutrition, and public health, India today launched the ‘SEHAT Mission’ — Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation.

Launched in the national capital Delhi, is a joint national mission of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that aims to link agriculture with better nutrition, disease prevention, farmer welfare, and science-based policymaking.

The mission aims to build a framework for ‘Healthy Food, Healthy Farms and a Healthy India’.

“The ‘SEHAT Mission’ represents a major transformation in India’s policy-making approach, where the government is no longer focusing only on treatment but also on prevention, early detection and continuous care,” said Union Health Minister JP Nadda at the launch. He said the initiative demonstrates that India is now moving ahead with a proactive rather than reactive healthcare approach.

Nadda noted that India must now develop indigenous solutions rooted in its own scientific research, institutional experience, and evidence-based practices.

“Low-cost, high-quality and scientifically validated solutions will be the most useful for the country, and ICMR is fully committed to working in this direction,” Nadda said.

The mission will play a significant role in addressing both malnutrition and the rapidly rising burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

It will focus on:

• bio-fortified crops,
• nutrient-rich food products,
• integrated farming systems,
• health and safety measures for farmers,
• dietary solutions for lifestyle diseases,
• the ‘One Health’ approach.

Also read: Hantavirus: How India’s Virus Surveillance System Is Preparing To Track Rat-Borne Virus Early

The initiative will work towards improving the health and safety of farmers and agricultural laborers to reduce risk from exposure to pesticides, imbalanced use of chemicals, and hazardous conditions faced during agricultural work.

It also seeks to establish stronger institutional coordination between agriculture and medical research systems so that food production, public nutrition, and disease prevention can be addressed through integrated planning and scientific collaboration.

Officials associated with the program said the initiative is expected to create a scientific framework under which agriculture policy, nutrition strategies, and healthcare systems can work together in a coordinated manner.

The launch of the mission comes at a time when India is increasingly facing dual challenges of nutritional deficiencies on one hand and rising lifestyle-related diseases on the other.

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The initiative is expected to lead to

• improvements in nutritional quality,
• reduction in hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies,
• prevention of non-communicable diseases,
• better health and safety for farmers,
• development of sustainable food systems
• stronger science-based policy support.