In a ringing endorsement for healthy eating, researchers have discovered that excessive consumption of soft drinks may contribute to a person’s risk of contracting pancreatic cancer. In fact, according to the findings, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, even just drinking two or more soft drinks per week nearly doubles the risk when compared to an individual who drinks none. Soft drinks were described as sugar sweetened, carbonated beverages, or soda pop.

In the study in question, researchers followed over 60,000 men and women for 14 year, during which there were 140 cases of pancreatic cancer. For the people who consumed, on average, five soft drinks each week, they increased their risk for pancreatic cancer by as much as 87%. Interestingly, the authors found no correlation between drinking fruit juice and contracting pancreatic cancer.

The authors of the study acknowledge that people who consume large amounts of soda pop also fall into certain lifestyle categories, some of which might not be the healthiest, but the sugary makeup of soft drinks may have an especially significant effect because of the stress they create on our pancreas.

That is because when we consume that much sugar on a regular basis, the pancreas has to work overtime to break it down. The pancreas is an organ that performs two important functions in our body. It has exocrine glands that secrete enzymes to help digest food in the intestines. It also has endocrine glands that secrete hormones, including insulin, which is essential for sugar metabolism. When our either our pancreas or insulin no longer function properly, the result is diabetes.

Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare but deadly form of cancer, mainly due to the fact that by the time it is diagnosed, it has already spread to much of the body. In 2004, of the 31,800 cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed, all but 600 of them died from the disease. Since there is not an effective therapeutic course at this time, the only way to treat pancreatic cancer is through surgery.

While there is no definitive link at this time between the consumption of soft drinks and pancreatic cancer, the relationship is nonetheless intriguing, especially in light of the amount of sugary beverages that our culture consumes. One study found that between 1997 and 2001, soft drink consumption had increased by 135%, while consumption of milk (a more nutritious beverage) actually dropped by 38%.

It is a generally accepted fact that excessive soft drink consumption increases a person’s risk for becoming obese. People who drink more than one can (12 ounces) of soda pop each day are slated to gain up to an average of 15 pounds every year. This is mainly due to the excess sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup, whereby each additional can of soda is the equivalent of 30% of our recommended weekly intake of sugar.

Needless to say, the overall caloric contribution can be significant, as well as the increased strain all of that sugar puts on our bodies, especially our pancreas. And, of course, there is the damage that it does to our teeth.

With this in mind, perhaps it would be a good time to consider alternatives to soft drinks, including water. If you are unsure what to do, speak with your physician or a licensed nutrition expert.

For more information about pancreatic cancer, visit the website for the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.