Sugary drinks link to greater risk of death

That's according to preliminary research that found a graded association between consuming more sugary beverages – such as soft drinks, fruit drinks and fruit juices – and an increased risk of death from heart disease or any cause.

And the study's finding should encourage healthcare providers to ask patients about sugary beverage consumption during well visits to open the door to a conversation about a dietary change that could be made to reduce risk, the authors say.

Study participants in the top 25% of consumers – those who tended to drink 24 ounces or more of sugary beverages each day – had twice the risk of death from coronary heart disease compared to those in the lowest 25% of people who drank less than one ounce.