And you thought they would just spoil your appetite.

A Simmons College study reveals that sugar-sweetened beverages increase a woman’s risk of heart disease. Regular consumption of beverages like soda and energy drinks puts women at a higher risk for coronary heart disease, according to research findings of nutrition professor Teresa Fung

Published in the April edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study found “a significant positive association” between sugary beverages and risk of heart disease.

Women in the study who drank two more of the beverages each day had a 35 percent higher risk of heart disease than those who did not.

The study also found that women who drank sugar-sweetened beverages were fatter, engage in less physical activity, and ate fattier foods.

“We all know that drinking lots of sugary beverages is unhealthy,” said Fung. “This study looked specifically at how regular consumption of sugary beverages can lead to an increased risk of heart disease.”

The study included carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, natural and artificial flavors, and caffeinated or decaffeinated drinks.

Other studies show that consumption of these beverages has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Today, 9.2 percent of all liquids consumed by women are sugary drinks.

About The Author

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine and the Blast Magazine Network. He can be reached at [email protected]. Tweet @johnguilfoil.

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