Could drinking a soda increase your risk for heart disease? A new study finds drinking more than a third of a liter, or one and a half cups per day, may be linked to heart disease and that drinking diet soda may not lower the risk. VOA's Carol Pearson has more.

Around the world, 180 billion liters of soda are consumed yearly, averaging 29 liters per person

Dr. Ramachandran Vasan

All of these factors increase the risk for heart disease. And there was no difference in the results for those who drank diet soda over regular soda...something that surprised even the researchers.

Connie Deikman

In other words, it could be that unhealthy people like soda. Dr. Vasan found those who drink soda generally tend to have greater caloric intake. They eat more saturated fat and transfats. They also eat less fiber and exercise less. Diet soda drinkers may also share this unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Vasan agrees that the link he found between heart disease risk and diet soda needs additional study.