Sugary and Energy drinks: The health risks hiding in your daily drink
September 1, 2026 · by CEO Rafamall
Frequent consumption of sugary and energy drinks poses significant health risks, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and dental caries. This is primarily due to high amounts of added or free sugar. Medical experts advise choosing whole fruits over juices and being mindful of drink frequency and quantity.
According to him, regularly consuming drinks with high amounts of added or free sugar can contribute to health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, gout, dental caries and obesity.
That bottle of soft drink, fruit juice, energy drink or other sweetened beverage may seem harmless, but frequent consumption could have serious consequences for your health, medical doctor at Solis Hospital, Dr Ebow Daniels, has warned.According to him, regularly consuming drinks with high amounts of added or free sugar can contribute to health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, gout, dental caries and obesity.
Speaking recently on Channel One TV, Dr Daniels explained that while a sugary drink may not necessarily be considered poisonous after a single consumption, frequent and excessive intake could become harmful over time.
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“In toxicology, a poison is anything that, when you take it, can harm you dangerously; that's why it becomes poisonous if consumption becomes chronic,” he said.
Dr Daniels urged consumers to pay attention to the sugar content of beverages, noting that additives, sweeteners and carbonation can make highly sugary drinks more appealing.
“If I give you 12.5 to 15 cubes of sugar, you will not like to take it. But once it has been composed into your bottle like this, and other additives and sweetness and carbonation have taken place, you'll be very, very happy to take it,” he said.
He also cautioned against assuming that drinks made from natural ingredients are automatically healthy.
According to him, eating whole fruits is preferable to regularly consuming fruit juice because the fruit retains its fibre, which helps slow the absorption of sugar and provides a greater feeling of fullness.
“When you are doing that, you are taking it with a fibre. The fibre comes and then you get some element of satiety with it,” he explained.
He said squeezing several fruits into a single glass of juice makes it easier to consume a large amount of sugar quickly.
“That is why I keep saying that instead of going to a store and buy, let's say, pineapple juice or buying orange juice or anything, it's better you rather take the fruit,” he said.
Dr Daniels further explained that frequent consumption of sugary drinks causes repeated spikes in blood sugar, increasing the demand for insulin from the pancreas.
“But every day, you are giving it the sugary drinks. It means that the pancreas has to be working 24/7. And then what happens is that after some time, it gets tired and some of the cells die off,” he said.
He said prolonged excessive consumption could contribute to insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
The doctor also linked excess sugar consumption to weight gain and explained that excess body fat can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance.
On hypertension, he said excessive sugar consumption can interfere with the normal functioning of blood vessels.
“When the cells and the blood vessels cannot relax, the diameter becomes narrow. And then the blood pressure goes up,” he noted.
Dr Daniels stressed that naturally occurring sugars are not necessarily harmful when consumed in their natural form and in moderation.
“Natural sugars are not problematic if they are taken in their natural state and they occur in their natural state,” he said.
However, he emphasised that quantity and frequency remain important.
“The whole thing is about the frequency; what tastes sweet for a minute may burden your metabolism for years,” he warned.
Dr Daniels urged the public to make healthy food and drink choices.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main health risks associated with frequent sugary drink consumption?
Frequent consumption of sugary drinks can contribute to health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, gout, dental caries, and obesity.
Is fruit juice as healthy as eating whole fruit?
Eating whole fruits is generally preferred over regularly consuming fruit juice because whole fruits retain their fiber, which slows sugar absorption and provides a greater feeling of fullness.
How do sugary drinks affect the pancreas?
Frequent consumption of sugary drinks causes repeated spikes in blood sugar, increasing the demand for insulin from the pancreas, which can lead to it becoming overworked and potentially developing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Are natural sugars always healthy?
Natural sugars are not problematic if they are consumed in their natural state and in moderation. The key concern with all sugars is the quantity and frequency of intake.
Why are sugary drinks so appealing despite their high sugar content?
Additives, sweeteners, and carbonation in sugary drinks can make them highly appealing, masking the large amount of sugar (equivalent to 12.5 to 15 cubes) they contain.
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