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Cardiac surgeon completely avoids this drink: He called it 'liquid death'
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Health & Science

Cardiac surgeon completely avoids this drink: He called it 'liquid death'

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A US cardiac surgeon calls carbonated soft drinks 'liquid death' due to their high sugar and calorie content.
  • The surgeon, Dr. Jeremy London, avoids these drinks and other items like smoking, alcohol, and refined flour products.
  • While diet sodas are a less harmful alternative, excessive consumption should still be avoided.

A prominent American cardiac surgeon has issued a stark warning about carbonated soft drinks, labeling them 'liquid death.' Dr. Jeremy London, a specialist in general, vascular, and thoracic surgery, frequently shares heart-healthy habits on his social media platforms. He has identified four things he completely avoids, with sugary carbonated beverages topping the list.

liquid death

โ€” Dr. Jeremy LondonThe American cardiac surgeon's provocative term for carbonated soft drinks.

Dr. London's avoidance list also includes smoking, which he considers the single greatest risk factor for health, significantly increasing the chances of lung cancer, heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. He also abstains from alcohol, stating that quitting was one of the best decisions he made as an adult.

The surgeon's strong statement about carbonated drinks, particularly those with added sugar, aims to provoke discussion about dietary habits. He highlighted that these drinks contain substantial amounts of sugar and calories, which are easily consumed without a feeling of fullness. This can lead to weight gain, a major risk factor for heart disease.

smoking is the biggest single risk factor for health

โ€” Dr. Jeremy LondonThe surgeon's view on the primary health risk.

Refined flour products, such as white bread and pasta, are also on Dr. London's list of items to avoid. He believes diet has a far greater impact on maintaining a healthy weight than exercise, and poor eating habits cannot be fully compensated for by physical activity. While diet sodas sweetened with artificial sweeteners like aspartame are suggested as an alternative, doctors advise against excessive consumption of any beverage.

quitting alcohol was one of the best decisions I made in my adult life

โ€” Dr. Jeremy LondonThe surgeon's reflection on abstaining from alcohol.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.