A recent review of existing studies on sugar consumption
and heart health finds that regular consumption of too much sugar and
other added sweeteners increases the risk of high blood pressure and elevated
blood cholesterol, even when individuals maintain a healthy weight.
These findings corroborate results released earlier this
year that were based on data collected from the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES) which tracks over 31,000 Americans. For this current review, researchers pooled
the results of all international studies
done comparing the effects of higher versus lower added sugar consumption on
blood pressure and lipids. They found 37
trials reporting effects on lipids and 12 reporting effects on blood pressure.
The review concluded
that as long as caloric and carbohydrate intake were kept the same, consuming a
higher percentage of calories from sugar
did not contribute to more added weight.
But, eating a higher percentage of calories from sugar did result in
significantly higher blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels. So, even when consuming a sugary diet does
not result in weight gain, it does increase one's risk of heart disease.
What to do: Avoid added sugar as much as possible. Even at
a healthy weight, a daily 20-oz serving of soda alone puts you over the limit
of sugar intake. Beware not only of foods we typically think of as
sweets. "Healthy foods" such as granola bars, cereal, sauces,
canned & dried fruit, and yogurt contain substantial amounts of added
sweeteners.
Source:
L. A. Te Morenga, A. J.
Howatson, R. M. Jones, J. Mann. Dietary sugars and cardiometabolic risk:
systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of the
effects on blood pressure and lipids. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, 2014; DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.113.081521
Articles
adapted from:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11256097
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140515095633.htm
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