Simulation shows what happens to body if you consume drink labelled by heart surgeon as 'liquid death'

Maybe when we start calling things a ‘fridge cigarette’, we should have probably known they might not be the best for our health.

But to be fair, ‘liquid death’ doesn’t quite have the same, fun ring to it.

That’s how heart surgeon Dr Jeremy London is referring to the drinks as though. And it’s not even about booze, rather the likes of soft drinks and fizzy drinks that he says he cuts out from his diet to protect his longevity.

The doc did list these (let’s face it, very popular refreshments) among the likes of alcohol, smoking, breads, pasta, refined flours and wheats as items he avoids at all costs for his health.

And while he admitted some of it was a bit of an attention tactic, a simulation shows just what the impact of drinking fizzy drinks is.

Shared on TikTok, the video shows what goes on inside the body when you consume a soft drink.

It says 'dissolved sugars rush straight into your blood' with 'glucose racing everywhere'.

Your pancreas then 'fires insulin to fight the sudden spike'.

This is actually one of the reasons fizzy drinks are bad for you. They can increase insulin resistance, which is the first step towards type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, the sugar from the fizzy drink releases dopamine, resulting in a 'quick high'.

If the drink contains caffeine, it can also cause your heartbeat to quicken.

The kidneys are also working overtime. Studies have shown that phosphoric acid, found in some fizzy drinks, can even result in kidney stones - which you definitely do not want.

Meanwhile, consuming too much fructose, which is also found in fizzy drinks, can cause fat droplets to accumulate in liver cells, according to Harvard Health.

This can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can eventually lead to liver failure.

Too many fizzy drinks can also affect your bones. A 2020 study found that phosphoric acid can decrease bone density over time, leading to osteoporosis and increase the risk of fractures.

Your teeth will suffer too. Lakes Pediatric Dentistry said that acids like phosphoric acid and citric acid found in fizzy drinks 'can dissolve tooth enamel and cause irreparable damage'.

The simulation concludes: "A simple sip, but no organ escapes its hit."

It's worth noting of course that while there can be the likes of additives, some soft drinks are caffeine free or sugar free.

In his video, Dr London branded soft drinks as ‘liquid death’ as he warned: “Just don’t drink them. Period. Done.”

And speaking to TODAY , he claimed that his extreme attack on fizzy drinks was an attention tactic.

"I think that soft drinks are just a scourge in our society, and so I was really trying to get some attention," he admitted.

"Obviously, high-calorie soft drinks and ingesting a lot of calories that people don't realise they're getting with the sugar-based soft drinks is a big no-no."

What should you drink instead?

While it may not be as enticing, the Heart Foundation urges people to simply drink water when they're thirsty, as ultimately that is the most heart-healthy drink.

Healthier alternatives to these high-sugar drinks can include:

• Sparkling water (try adding chopped fruit or herbs; for example, fresh mint)
• Unflavoured milk
• Plant-based milks with added calcium, like soy, almond, oat, rice milk
• Tea
• Coffee
• Small glass (125ml) of 100% fruit or vegetable juice