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.

Americans reach for coffee more often than any other drink, and studies continue to show that a couple of daily cups suit most people and may even support overall health. At the same time, nearly half of U.S. adults live with high blood pressure, defined as a systolic reading above 130 mmHg or a diastolic reading above 80 mmHg.

This raises a natural question. Does caffeine play a part in rising blood pressure levels? Is our strong preference for coffee adding to the problem, or could regular coffee intake possibly help keep blood pressure lower?

Coffee And High Blood Pressure: Is There A Link?

Many people enjoy coffee because it sharpens focus and lifts energy. That same stimulating action is also what can nudge blood pressure upward for a short while. John Higgins, MD, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at UTHealth Houston, agrees that this happens and notes that the general answer is yes. Moderate coffee use is usually acceptable for people whose blood pressure is stable or only slightly raised, though individuals react differently. While caffeine can push readings higher for a brief period, long-term drinking patterns tell another story.

Several studies report no added risk of hypertension among people who drink coffee often. A review of 13 cohort studies found no clear link between coffee intake and the development of high blood pressure. A separate 2023 review even noted that heavier coffee consumption was tied to a 7 percent lower risk of hypertension. The evidence suggests that people who drink coffee regularly tend to build tolerance to caffeine’s short-lived effect on blood pressure.

The 2025 AHA/ACC Hypertension Guideline does not list specific limits for coffee, and the American Heart Association states that moderate amounts appear fine for healthy adults.

How Much Coffee Is Safe To Consume For Blood Pressure Patients?

There is no set rule, but research supports one to three cups a day for most people whose blood pressure is well controlled.

Remember that caffeine levels can vary quite a bit depending on the brewing method, and it is wise to think about your total caffeine intake, including tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks.

Keep the following points in mind when having coffee:

• Choose your add-ins carefully. Sugar, flavored syrups, and full-fat milk can lead to weight gain and metabolic issues, both of which raise blood pressure risk and may add to caffeine’s influence.
• Avoid drinking coffee late in the afternoon. Coffee taken after two or three o’clock can disturb sleep, and poor sleep on its own can worsen blood pressure.
• Allow some time before checking your blood pressure. Coffee can cause a temporary rise, giving you an inaccurate reading. If you want to see how caffeine affects you, measure your pressure before drinking and again 30 to 60 minutes later.

Who Should Avoid Drinking Coffee?

Drinking coffee is generally safe for those with steady or slightly raised blood pressure, and the greater concern usually lies with uncontrolled hypertension. Still, people who are sensitive to caffeine or have poorly managed blood pressure should be more careful.

Extra caution is advised if you have:

• Uncontrolled stage 2 or 3 hypertension
• Organ damage tied to long-standing high blood pressure or other chronic illnesses
• Heart rhythm problems, particularly atrial fibrillation
• Conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

In these situations, consider limiting or avoiding caffeinated coffee until your readings improve. Keep in mind that coffee is only one part of overall blood pressure care. Do not overlook reducing sodium intake, staying active, managing weight, and following prescribed treatment.

"ADHD typically is addressed by behavioral changes and therapy, but did you know that the actual treatment for ADHD lies in the food and the nutrition that you consume," is a claim made by Manjari Chandra, a nutritional medicine practitioner. She shares that mood and food are linked. While it is true that science has long revealed that what you eat could impact your mood, but does it mean it can cure a mental health disorder?

The nutritionist pointing out that the "actual treatment for ADHD lies in food" has raised eye brows. While it is true that what you eat impacts your brain health, it cannot simply fix ADHD.

Another is a claim by Be Medic Academy, where they have posted on there Instagram channel that ADHD Can Be Treated Through Diet. The reel says, "In India, 58% of people are suffering from mental and emotional problems like ADHD, GAD, stress, depression, etc., and these can be cured only and only through lifestyle changes and diet."

To dig deeper into the claim, the Health and Me ran a fact check on it.

What Did We Find About The Claim That Your Diet Can Treat ADED?

Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas, who is a clinical neurologist, and is known for his informational videos on ADHD points out that there is a link between nutrition, ADHD, and other brain health disorders, however, this, alone cannot treat ADHD.

Dr Mateas says that one can tackle the symptoms of ADHD through gut-brain axis. One can increase fibers, inulin, which can be found in red chicory and have food rich in polyphenols. Other components like isoflavone or other antioxidants could "actually go throughout your body and regulate loads of different functions in the body." However, the video notes that diet cannot alone be the cure.

Experts and doctors have pointed out that there is no scientific or medical consensus to back the claim that diet alone can cure ADHD. In fact, a recent study in Current Nutrition Report noted that supplementing the diet with zinc and iron could reduce the severity of ADHD symptoms, however, it did not mean that it can cure ADHD altogether.

Another study led by Olweya Mohammed Abd El Baaki et.al., noted that reduced intake of carbohydrates and proteins was linked to improvements in ADHD symptoms. All studies noted that diet can manage the symptoms, however, it cannot cure the condition on its own.

Dr Rahul Chwala, who is an associate consultant in the Department of Neurology at PSRI Hospitals in New Delhi tells Medical Dialogues, "The claim that ADHD can be treated solely through diet is false. While certain dietary modifications, like reducing processed foods, artificial additives and ensuring balanced nutrition, may support overall brain health and behavior, they do not cure or treat ADHD."

The doctor says that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with complex genetic and neurological factors. "Evidence based treatments primarily includes behavioral therapy and medications such as stimulants [are used for treatment]. Dietary interventions can complement, but not replace medical management."

Do foods impact our mood and how we feel? For some of us, cake makes us happy, for others, a bowl of salad. But, is there really a connection? For years, we have thought that foods like pizza, a cake, or something that is quick and can be made instantly makes us happy.

But experts argue that this belief is less science and more savvy advertising.

“People are like walking wallets to food companies,” Felice Jacka, Director of the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University in Australia tells this to NPR. “They sell you this myth that eating these foods will make you feel good.”

In reality, these foods can mimic a short-lived high , a bit like champagne, she says. “Feels good in the short term, but the long-term impact is the opposite.”

How Does Food Shape Your Mood?

Over the past 15 years, Jacka and other researchers have built the field of nutritional psychiatry, exploring how diet influences mood and mental health. Their findings are clear: while some foods lift your mood and protect against depression, others do the exact opposite.

Ultraprocessed foods or UPFs, which packed with refined sugars, white flours and additives, fall firmly in the mood-draining category. People often feel anxious, irritable or lethargic a few hours after eating them.

Speaking to NPR, Dr Kara Margolis, a pediatric gastroenterologist at New York University tells that she sees this link regularly. “Some weekend mornings, I go to a diner and have a waffle. By 10 o’clock, I feel terrible,” she says.

Long-term patterns matter even more. “Large epidemiological studies show a 20% to 30% higher risk of depression when diets are high in ultraprocessed foods and refined carbohydrates,” Margolis adds.

At the same time, several controlled trials reveal that cutting these foods out and replacing them with whole, minimally processed foods helps reduce depression symptoms. The paradox? When people believe ultraprocessed foods make them happy, they tend to eat more of them.

The Gut–Brain Connection

If sugary treats aren’t true “happy foods,” then what is? Scientists are still mapping this connection, but one strong contender keeps emerging: whole grains.

“Whole grains seem to be particularly important,” says Jacka. Their power comes from fermentable fiber, which feeds beneficial gut bacteria. When these microbes digest fiber, they produce molecules that reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity and strengthen gut-brain communication, all factors linked to better mood.

“Making the environment in your gut right for good bacteria not only can affect mood, but it can protect you from nearly every medical condition that’s been studied,” says Margolis, citing heart disease and diabetes among them.

As the holiday season approaches, what are the four ways one can eat food that makes us happy, but for a longer period of time.

Four Ways To Eat For a Happier Holiday Season

Cook at Home More Often

Jacka says there are two independent ways to influence mood through diet, and the first is: cut back on ultraprocessed foods.

That includes foods with artificial sweeteners, refined carbs, preservatives, emulsifiers (like xanthan gum or soy lecithin), and artificial flavors.

During the holidays, skip store-bought pies, pastries and fast-food burgers. Jacka suggests making a “beautiful flour-free cake using almond meal and honey. It’s still sweet, but much better for your mood.”

Make the Holidays Less ‘White’

The second strategy: increase whole grains.

Swap croissants and sugary cereals for oats or brown-rice congee. Choose corn tortillas over flour ones. Switch biscuits and white rolls for 100% whole-wheat versions. Even baking can be tweaked, use oat, barley or whole-wheat flour.

Add Beans and Lentils

Another powerful source of fermentable fiber is legumes.

“Your microbiome loves beans,” says Dr Meroë Morse of MD Anderson Cancer Center, as reported in NPR. Even a small amount, a quarter cup of cooked beans, can deliver a significant fiber boost.

Speaking to NPR, Hannah Holscher, microbiome scientist and dietitian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, recommends tossing beans or lentils into soups, curries or chili. Lentils cook quickly and are cost-effective, making them an easy daily addition.

Increase Slowly

Beans, lentils and dense whole grains can be intense for an unprepared gut. Holscher advises starting with small servings and increasing gradually. Soaking beans or trying different varieties may also help minimize bloating.

Other fermentable-fiber foods, chia seeds, berries, pears, apples, avocados and even unripe bananas, can round out your fiber intake.