That Soda Might Be Costing You More Than You Think
That Soda Might Be Costing You More Than You Think
Drinking a can of soda every day isn’t just adding extra calories—it might also be shortening your life. A new study from the University of Michigan found that just one soda could cut 12 minutes off your lifespan. Even worse, processed foods like hot dogs and corned beef could reduce life expectancy by 36 and 71 minutes per serving, raising concerns about unhealthy eating habits.
How Different Foods Affect Lifespan
Researchers studied 5,853 foods in the American diet to see how they impact life expectancy. The results were surprising:
❌ Soda → -12 minutes per can
❌ Hot dogs → -36 minutes per serving
❌ Corned beef → -71 minutes per serving
❌ Bacon → -6 minutes per serving
❌ Chicken wings → -3 minutes per serving
With 63% of American adults and 45% of high school students drinking sugary drinks daily, this study shows that the damage may happen faster than we thought.
A University of Michigan study found that drinking Coke may shorten life expectancy, with each serving reducing life by about 12 minutes. The research highlights the long-term health risks of consuming ultra-processed drinks. pic.twitter.com/BAJV7ZHDDD
— ❤ THE NUTRITION CARE ❤ (@Nutri_Care_) February 20, 2025
Healthier Choices Can Add Minutes to Your Life
Not all foods take away time—some can actually add minutes to your lifespan:
✅ Peanut butter & jelly sandwich → +33 minutes
✅ Sardines in tomato sauce → +82 minutes
✅ Nuts → +26 minutes
✅ Bananas → +14 minutes
Dr. Olivier Jolliet, the lead researcher, explained that even small changes can make a big difference. Swapping just 10% of your daily calories from processed meats to fruits, vegetables, and legumes could add 48 minutes to your life each day!
Why This Matters
This study highlights how everyday food choices can affect how long we live. With more awareness, experts hope people will start choosing healthier options.
So next time you reach for a can of soda or a hot dog, you might want to think twice—is it really worth losing precious minutes of your life?
