According to new research, one type of drink doubles the risk of bowel cancer if it is drank twice a day.
The results of the study indicate that drinking beverages that have been sweetened with sugar can lead to a significantly higher chance of developing the disease.
This includes soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Irn-Bru, as well as energy drinks like Lucozade and Powerade.
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As reported by Birmingham Live, developing bowel cancer before the age of 50 is twice as likely if these are drank twice per day.
The research, which analysed over 95,000 patients across 24 years, was included in the monthly peer reviewed medical journal Gut.
Scientists looked at factors such as family history of cancer and as lifestyle, as well as drink intake.
109 women developed bowel cancer before the age of 50 and all had a higher intake of sugar-sweetened drinks, the researchers discovered.
The study added: "Reducing intake and/or [substitution] with other healthier beverages among adolescents and young adults may serve as a potential actionable strategy to alleviate the growing burden of bowel cancer before the age of 50."
Researchers found the risk of bowel cancer could be lowered by swapping out the drinks for things like coffee, or semi skimmed milk, or whole milk.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60.
Almost 9 in 10 people with bowel cancer are aged 60 or over and having a close relative (mother or father, brother or sister) who developed bowel cancer under the age of 50 puts you at a greater lifetime risk of developing the condition.
