Weekly Habit QUINTUPLES Your Cancer Risk

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted May 24, 2025

Everyone knows that sugar-sweetened sodas aren’t going to win any nutrition awards.

That’s not news.

But now, a disturbing new study suggests these soft drinks hide a deadly secret.

A regular soda habit could do far more damage than just expand your waistline or raise your diabetes risk.

The new research reveals these sugary treats could also dramatically increase your risk of oral cancer—especially for women.

And how they do it is shocking…

I must warn you that the “harmless” can of soda in your hand might not seem so refreshing after you read this.

A shocking study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery uncovered  an alarming connection between sugary drinks and oral cavity cancer (OCC).

Women who drank one sugar-sweetened beverage a week had a 4.87 times higher oral cancer risk than women who drank less than one a month.

That’s not a typo—they had nearly FIVE times the risk from a moderate soda habit.

OCC is a particularly nasty form of cancer affecting the tongue, gums, floor of the mouth, and other parts of the oral cavity. Oral cancer can be disfiguring, difficult to treat, and often has poor outcomes when not caught early.

To understand how soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and other sugar-sweetened beverages make you more likely to get oral cavity cancer, researchers looked at the established risk factors for this disease.

While tobacco, alcohol, and human papillomavirus (HPV) have long been considered the “big three” risk factors for oral cancer, this study suggests sugary drinks might deserve a place on that infamous list.

The mechanism is similar to how tobacco and alcohol damage the mouth. These known carcinogens produce chronic inflammation and harmful changes in a person’s oral microbiome—the community of bacteria that lives in the mouth.

Similarly, the high sugar content in sweetened beverages may prompt chronic inflammation in the oral cavity, creating an environment where cancer cells can develop and thrive.

This is particularly concerning considering that many people drink soda daily, regularly bathing their oral tissues in sugar repeatedly throughout the day.

So, what can you do to protect yourself? Here are some practical steps to reduce your risk:

• Phase out sugary drinks gradually if you can’t quit cold turkey.
• Replace soda with water, unsweetened tea, and water infused with fresh fruit.
• If you crave carbonation, try sparkling water without added sugars.
• Be wary of “fruit drinks,” which often contain as much sugar as soda.
• Rinse your mouth with water after drinking any sugary beverage.
• Maintain excellent oral hygiene with regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups.
• Ask your dentist to perform an oral cancer screening at your next appointment.
• Be particularly vigilant if you have other risk factors for oral cancer, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

While this study focused on women, there’s no reason to believe men are immune to these effects. The wisest approach is to limit sugar-sweetened beverages as much as possible.

P.S. Try this easy hack to trick yourself into drinking MORE water.

Source:

Gomez-Castillo L, Cushing-Haugen KL, Useche M, et al. High sugar-sweetened beverage intake and oral cavity cancer in smoking and nonsmoking women. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online March 13, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2024.5252

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.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND