As we age our DNA changes. It can be measured and is a predictor of aging. The telomeres are parts of our genes and they shorten as we age.
“The researchers found that the amount of sugar-sweetened soda the participants consumed was associated with the length of their telomeres. They calculated that consuming 20 ounces of soda every day (600 mls of soft drink) was associated with around 4.6 years of additional biological aging, based on how telomere length shortens with chronological aging.”
One can of soft drink per day or 2 glasses of fruit juice will get you to that level of intake.
Who would have thought that we would be criticising sugar this much when I was growing up and having that intake?
“This finding held regardless of age, race, income and education level. Telomere shortening starts long before disease onset. Further, although we only studied adults here, it is possible that soda consumption is associated with telomere shortening in children, as well.”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283994.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25322305