Love drinking cola? It might be taking years off your life. Here's exactly how much

Many people enjoy a cold soda, especially on a hot day, but recent research suggests that indulging in sugary drinks like cola might have a measurable impact on lifespan. Scientists have now quantified exactly how much healthy life a single serving of cola could be costing.

How Cola Affects Your Lifespan
A study conducted by researchers Katerina Stylianou and Olivier Jolliet examined the effects of thousands of individual foods on human health. Published in Nature Food, the research analyzed more than 5,800 foods commonly consumed in the American diet. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease, the study considered environmental, metabolic, and behavioral factors to estimate how each food impacts longevity.

According to the study, drinking one serving of cola can shorten a person’s “healthy life” by approximately 12 minutes. While this may seem minor in isolation, frequent consumption over years can add up significantly, especially considering the temptation to have multiple servings in a day.


Foods That Can Extend or Reduce Life
The research also highlighted other dietary choices with substantial impacts on lifespan. For instance, eating a 1-ounce serving of nuts and seeds was found to add around 25 minutes to a person’s healthy life. On the other hand, highly processed meats, such as hot dogs, could reduce life expectancy by as much as 36 minutes per serving.

These findings underline the importance of mindful eating. Even small adjustments in diet can have measurable effects on health over time.

Small Changes, Big Benefits
Stylianou and Jolliet emphasize that people don’t need to overhaul their diet completely to see benefits. The study found that replacing just 10 percent of daily caloric intake from beef and processed meats with a mix of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, or certain seafood could add up to 48 minutes of healthy life per person each day.


The researchers also stress the broader implications for both personal health and the environment. Jolliet pointed out that targeted substitutions in diet offer a practical strategy to improve health without requiring drastic changes. The study encourages increasing nutritionally beneficial foods and reducing intake of highly processed or high-impact foods.

While enjoying cola occasionally is unlikely to be immediately harmful, the research provides a clear warning: sugary drinks and processed meats can chip away at your healthy years.