For decades, cholesterol was considered the ultimate threat to heart health. But a groundbreaking 15-year study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has shifted the narrative: too much added sugar may be even deadlier for the heart than cholesterol itself.
Researchers tracked thousands of U.S. adults and discovered a startling fact: those who consumed 25% or more of their daily calories from added sugar had more than double the risk of dying from heart disease compared with people who consumed less than 10%. Most strikingly, the risk held true regardless of body weight, age, sex, physical activity, or cholesterol levels.
Sugar-sweetened beverages emerged as the main culprit, accounting for more than one-third of added sugars in the average American diet. Other sources include desserts, candies, breakfast cereals, and fruit drinks—all of which contribute quietly but powerfully to excess intake.
Excess sugar doesn’t just add empty calories. It raises blood pressure and prompts the liver to release harmful fats into the bloodstream, both of which increase the risk of heart attack and sudden death.
The American Heart Association recommends that women limit added sugar to no more than 6 teaspoons per day (about 100 calories) and men to 9 teaspoons (150 calories). Yet a single can of soda can already exceed that daily allowance.
The takeaway is simple but urgent: cutting back on added sugars is not a wellness trend, but a crucial step in protecting cardiovascular health. Choosing sparkling water with fruit or naturally unsweetened foods can mean the difference between a strong heart and life-threatening disease.
Source: Jama Medicine
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