Are You "Addicted" to Soda? (It's NOT Your Fault)

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted April 28, 2025

Ever have a friend who claims they’re “addicted” to their favorite soft drink? Or maybe you feel like you can’t get enough of your preferred soda?

Big Beverage spends billions annually developing crave-worthy products. They convince us to gulp down those liquid sugar bombs, insisting they’re perfectly safe “in moderation.”

Now, you and I both know that sodas and other sugary soft drinks are harmful to our health. That’s not news.

But shocking new research exposed an even darker side to these bad news drinks.

Researchers say the “addiction” you sometimes joke about may be very real—and it’s not just psychological.

According to a new study, that soda isn’t just a gulp of empty calories. You’re also triggering a cascade of destructive changes throughout your entire system.

But by far the most alarming discovery was that our small intestine can develop a “molecular addiction” to the sugar in sugar-sweetened beverages.

That addiction completely alters how your intestine functions and triggers a series of damaging changes.

The intestine begins to prioritize glucose absorption above all else. The uptake of essential nutrients like amino acids and fats gets pushed to the back of the line.

The resulting imbalance disrupts energy metabolism, which throws your entire metabolic system into chaos. A domino effect eventually leads to problems in other organs and tissues, including the liver and muscles.

The development of insulin resistance forces your liver to produce even more sugar when your body is already overloaded.

Then, dysfunctional mitochondria in your muscles make it nearly impossible to properly use glucose for energy. This creates a perfect storm for the development of obesity and diabetes.

Here’s what you can do to break the cycle:

• Replace ALL sugary beverages with filtered water, herbal teas, and black coffee
• If you must have sweetness, use small amounts of natural sweeteners like stevia
• Support your liver with cleansing foods like dandelion greens and beets
• Strengthen your mitochondria with regular exercise and intermittent fasting
• Consider a short sugar detox to reset your taste buds and break the addiction

Remember, your body is designed to thrive on real, whole foods—not laboratory concoctions.

The beverage industry has spent millions perfecting the “bliss point” that keeps you psychologically addicted to their drinks. Now we know destructive “molecular addiction” could soon follow.

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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