A heart surgeon has described one of the world's most consumed beverages as 'liquid death' and urged people to avoid it entirely. Dr Jeremy London, board-certified in general, vascular, and thoracic surgery, regularly shares health advice on social media. In an Instagram post, he listed four things he absolutely avoids as a heart surgeon: smoking, alcohol, breads and pastas, and soft drinks.
Dr London's Warnings
Dr London emphasized smoking as the single worst thing for the body, destroying lungs and causing cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Alcohol, he said, is toxic to every cell, and removing it from his life was transformative. Soft drinks he called 'liquid death,' stating bluntly, 'Just don't drink them. Period.' He also advised avoiding refined flours and wheats, noting that 80% of weight control is diet.
Expert Agreement on Soft Drink Dangers
Dr London is not alone. In an interview with Today, he admitted the term 'liquid death' was attention-grabbing but stood by his stance: soft drinks are a scourge due to hidden calories and sugar. Dr William Li, speaking on the Zoe podcast, said high soda consumption is linked to metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer risk. He highlighted that additives, colours, and preservatives in soda contribute to chronic toxin exposure.
The NHS advises children to avoid sugary fizzy drinks entirely, as they damage teeth and increase obesity risk. Health officials recommend diet, sugar-free, or no-added-sugar alternatives, with water as the best choice for hydration.
