Are you a Fizzy fan?

Then think twice after research suggested sugary beverages could “profoundly” change the brain. Drinking a sweet drink over a long period can lead to hyperactivity and alter hundreds of proteins in the brain, scientists found.

Fizzy drinks were earlier found to be associated with increased risk of heart attacks, diabetes, weight gain, brittle bones, pancreatic and prostate cancer, muscle weakness and paralysis. But shocking part is the recent study focused on their effects on the brain rather than the rest of the body.

The research, by Australian scientists, was carried out on rats that were fed sugary water. The animals became hyperactive after drinking the water and tissue taken from one part of their brains showed changes in the levels of almost 300 different proteins,

Jane Franklin, a researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, said there had been an “alarming increase” in the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in most Westernised societies and warned they should only be consumed as a treat. “For many adults, these drinks represent a substantial proportion of their daily calorific intake. Our research suggests that the long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in place of water can cause long-lasting changes to behaviour and a profound change in the chemistry of the brain.

“If you are thirsty, drink water. Soft drinks should be enjoyed in moderation.”

She added: “I think we can say that drinking too many soft drinks can affect brain chemistry, as well as your waistline.

“So think before you drink.”

A study carried out by Swedish scientists last year found that drinking just one fizzy drink a day could increase a man’s chance of developing prostate cancer by around 40%.

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