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We’ve all been warned about the dangers excess sugar can cause, but research conducted recently adds another danger to the list:?a heightened risk for dying from cardiovascular disease.
The study, published in the?January issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, found that those who got 17 to 21 percent of their calories from added sugar were built with a nearly 40 % greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed 8 percent of their calories from added sugar. The danger more than doubled for individuals who consumed 21 percent or more of their calories from added sugar.
Added sugars are sugars and syrups added to foods and drinks if they are processed or prepared. They’ve often been cited for adding to obesity, hypertension and cholesterol.
Some types of added sugars include:
- Sugar-sweetened beverages
- Grain-based desserts
- Fruit drinks
- Candy
- Read-to-eat cereals
- Yeast breads
This term doesn’t apply to naturally occurring sugars, which can be found in foods like fruits and fruit juices.
According towards the study, most U.S. adults consume about 22 teaspoons of added sugars daily. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends:
- No more than 6 teaspoons or 100 calories each day of sugar for women
- No a lot more than 9 teaspoons or 150 calories each day of sugar for men
The study also revealed that sugary drinks are the largest supply of added sugars in the American diet. Rachel Johnson, registered dietitian and chair of the AHA’s nutrition committee said, in a statement, that sugar-sweetened beverages ought to be limited to 36 ounces or 450 calories per week.
A can of regular soda packs about 35 grams of added sugars, which translates to almost 9 teaspoons or 140 calories. Reducing or eliminating soda, fruit, sports and energy drinks in addition to enhanced waters, sweetened teas and sugary coffee drinks will go quite a distance toward that goal, said Johnson.
The study recommends that federal guidelines and regulatory strategies be placed in place to help consumers control their sugar intake.
“We should have added sugars around the Nutrition Facts label so consumers will easily notice how much added sugars have been in these products they’re buying,” added Johnson.
