Inflammation is the driver of many chronic health problems—and sugary drinks and colas kickstart the process.
The fructose in the drinks triggers inflammation by putting the immune system into overdrive, and primes immune cells to overreact to bacterial toxins.
Paradoxically, this heightened vigilance makes us more susceptible to infection, and the problem is heightened in people who already have metabolic problems, which increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
A team of researchers from the University of Vienna have tracked the behaviour of monocytes, immune system cells, when they are exposed to fructose, the sweetener in sugary drinks.
They discovered that the cells react more intensely to bacterial toxins after people consume fructose-sweetened drinks. Levels of receptors that recognize bacterial toxins rose, making the body more prone to inflammation.
The researchers tested the effects of two drinks—fructose-sweetened and glucose-sweetened colas—on a group of volunteers, but the immune system over-reacted only to fructose.
Fructose drinks aren’t good for any of us, but people who have diabetes or fatty liver disease should especially avoid them, the researchers say.
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