Consuming more than one sugary drink per week increases the risk of 45 diseases

American and Chinese researchers have found that those who drink more than one sugary drink a week are more likely to suffer from several deadly diseases, including cancer, as reported by the newspaper "Russia Today".

The researchers found that for every additional sugary drink per week, the odds of suffering increased by about 45 different health conditions.

The World Health Organization prescribes a maximum of six teaspoons a day to ward off the health risks of diabetes, which range from diabetes to tooth decay.

6 teaspoons of sugar is equivalent to about 25g of sugar, which can be found in one can of soft drink, in one piece of 45g of milk chocolate or two cups of 150ml of fruit juice.

The lead review found that each additional sugar-sweetened beverage per day was associated with a 17 percent increased risk of coronary heart disease, a 4 percent increased risk of gout, and a 4 percent increased risk of death.

Experts have also found strong links between dietary sugar consumption and metabolic problems, including diabetes and obesity.

It has also been closely linked to ten heart problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, as well as seven types of cancer, including breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Excess sugar has also been linked to other health problems such as asthma, tooth decay and depression, according to the findings published in the British Medical Journal.

Even fructose, a natural sugar found in fruit juices, has been associated with a 22 percent increased risk of pancreatic cancer, for every 25g consumed per day.

The NHS says adults should not eat more than 30g of free sugars a day, roughly equivalent to seven sugar cubes.

But the researchers recommended limiting the consumption of sweetened beverages to between 200-355 ml per week, equivalent to one can per week, and sugar to less than 25g per day, approximately six teaspoons.

"To change sugar consumption patterns, especially for children and adolescents, a combination of education and public health policies is urgently needed at scale around the world," they said.