The concept of drinking nothing but soda may exist only in a video gamer's fantasy world. But what would happen if that dream became your reality?

That's the question posed in a video by AsapSCIENCE. It asks: What if you only drank soda? The answer, not surprisingly, is not pretty.

AsapSCIENCE - youtube.com

The gist of the video, which you can watch below, is this: The sweeteners found in most soft drinks — both of the diet and non-diet variety — can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health.

Americans consume a lot of soda. Nearly half of all Americans — 48 percent — reported gulping down at least a glass of soda every day, a 2012 Gallup poll showed. Among those who said they regularly drink soda, 20 percent said they imbibe two or more glasses daily.

Flickr/La Piazza Pizzeria - flickr.com

That number has probably decreased since 2012. Last year, per-capita consumption of carbonated sugary drinks in the United States fell to its lowest level since 1986, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp., which tracks the beverage market.

But even at reduced levels, soda's deleterious effects on health are cause for concern. In recent years, sugary drinks have been targeted in public health campaigns in a number of cities for that very reason.

NYC Health Department - nyc.gov

As the video observes, an estimated one-fifth of the overall weight gained in the United States between 1977 and 2007 is thought to be caused by soft drinks. There are also similarities in the aging effects of smoking and soda consumption.

And there are other negative health effects: In one case, a woman who drank two liters of soda every day for 16 years wound up in the hospital with a slew of health problems thought to be linked to her excessive consumption habits, the video reports.

Check out the video, below: