Heart Surgeon Says One Common Drink Is So Bad He Calls It 'Liquid Death'

A heart surgeon has made it clear that one everyday drink does not make it into his routine, and he did not hold back when describing it. While many people focus on food when trying to make better health choices, Dr Jeremy London says what people drink can matter just as much.

The drink he singled out is not alcohol, even though he also warns against that. London called soft drinks 'liquid death', a phrase that was clearly meant to make people stop scrolling and think about how often they reach for soda or other sugary drinks.

In a social media post, Dr Jeremy London, who is board certified in vascular thoracic and general surgery, listed four things he 'absolutely avoids' as a cardiac surgeon. The list included some expected health warnings, but his strongest language was saved for a beverage many people drink without thinking much about it.

London began with a warning that most people would expect from a heart doctor. He said he avoids smoking and described it as the 'single worst thing you can do to your body', placing it at the top of his personal no-go list.

Alcohol came next. He told followers that alcohol is 'toxic' to every cell in the body, while also making it clear that adults set their own boundaries. Even with that warning, alcohol was not the item he gave the harshest nickname.

The phrase 'liquid death' was aimed at soft drinks. For London, the issue appears to be less about one occasional soda and more about how common sugary drinks have become in daily life, especially when people may not count them the same way they count food.

A heart surgeon called soft drinks 'liquid death' Getty Stock

"Just don't drink them, period, done," he says, giving his followers a blunt rule rather than a long explanation in the original clip.

London later gave more background on why he used such dramatic wording. Soft drinks, also known as fizzy drinks in some places, are easy to consume quickly, and the calories can add up before someone feels full in the way they might after eating a meal.

"I think that soft drinks are just a scourge in our society, and so I was really trying to get some attention," he admitted in an interview with TODAY, although he still stood by the warning behind the phrase.

"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," he added.

The concern around soft drinks is not only about one doctor's opinion. Research has looked at how sugary drinks fit into diet, body weight, and long-term health. One paper available through the National Library of Medicine reviewed 88 studies and examined links between soft drink intake, nutrition, and health outcomes.

The researchers found 'clear associations of soft drink intake with increased energy intake and body weight'. In simple terms, sugary drinks can make it easier to take in more calories than someone realizes, because the sugar comes in liquid form and often does not feel as filling as food.

He called the drinks 'a big no-no' Getty Stock

Why sugary drinks are easy to overlook

One reason soda can be tricky is that it often feels like a small habit rather than a major part of a person's diet. But the American Heart Association says a 12-ounce can of regular soda can contain about 10 teaspoons of added sugar and around 160 calories, with no real nutrition American Heart Association.

The CDC also warns that frequently drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay, cavities, and gout CDC. That does not mean one drink causes all of those problems, but it helps explain why doctors often push people to cut back.

This is why London's warning lands on more than just soda itself. Many people notice sugar in desserts, candy, or snacks, but drinks can quietly become a daily source of added sugar when they are paired with lunch, used as an afternoon pick-me-up, or treated as a normal part of a meal.

The same review also linked soft drink intake with lower consumption of milk, calcium, and several other nutrients. That matters because sugary drinks can sometimes replace more useful choices, leaving people with more sugar and fewer nutrients across the day.

Dental health is another concern. Because soft drinks can be high in both sugar and acid, dentists warn that they may harm teeth over time. Colgate states they can ' soften tooth enamel, which can contribute to cavities.'

For anyone hoping the list ended with soda, London had one more item that may hurt a little more. The fourth thing he said he avoids is a big one for carb lovers: bread and pasta.

"Avoid the refined flours and wheats," he added. "I guarantee you can out eat any exercise you did," he said, while also claiming that 80% of weight control comes down to diet, with exercise making up the other 20%.

That final point may not be what pasta fans wanted to hear, especially from a heart surgeon who has already taken aim at soda, alcohol, and smoking. Still, his message is less about one perfect diet and more about the habits he personally avoids because of what he sees in his work.

We may pretend we didn't hear that one…