Consuming No Sugar at All May Doubtlessly Be Worse for You Than Ingesting Sugary Drinks, New Research Finds

A cheeky little slice of cake right here, a cookie there, or a nibble of chocolate each infrequently is not the worst factor on this planet. However in line with new analysis, the buck stops at sugary drinks. 

Final week, researchers printed a brand new report titled “Added sugar consumption and its associations with incidence of seven completely different cardiovascular ailments” within the journal Frontiers in Public Well being. The analysis surveyed 69,705 Swedish women and men, following their food regimen and way of life habits between 1997 and 2009, particularly monitoring three courses of sugar: Sugar toppings like honey, sweets like pastries, and sweetened drinks like soda. It additionally tracked individuals’ incidences of seven completely different cardiovascular ailments, together with occasions like strokes and coronary heart assaults, all to find out “the associations between consumption of added sugar and varied sugar-sweetened meals and drinks and danger of seven cardiovascular ailments,” the examine defined. And it discovered some stunning outcomes.

In line with the researchers, there’s a basic affiliation between added sugar consumption and cardiovascular ailments; nonetheless, the outcomes fluctuate by the supply of added sugar. And the worst offender of all is added sugar in sweetened drinks. 

“There have been statistically vital linear associations between complete added sugar consumption and ischemic stroke and stomach aortic aneurysm,” the researchers famous of their outcomes. “Excessive consumption of sweetened drinks was related to increased danger for many of the studied outcomes, for which constructive linear associations have been discovered.” 

Nevertheless, it’s necessary to notice the opposite finish of the spectrum didn’t fare a lot better. In line with the findings, “a low consumption of treats was related to a better danger of all of the studied outcomes.” Thus, those that consumed zero sweets had the very best danger of cardiovascular occasions, and consuming occasional treats was related to higher outcomes than no treats in any respect. 

“Essentially the most hanging discovering from our examine is the divergent relationship between completely different sources of added sugar and heart problems danger,” Suzanne Janzi, PhD candidate at Lund College and corresponding creator of the article in Frontiers in Public Well being, shared in a assertion. “This stunning distinction highlights the significance of contemplating not simply the quantity of sugar consumed, however its supply and context.”

Because the workforce defined, liquid sugars — aka these present in sodas and different added-sugar drinks — sometimes don’t make us really feel full in a short time, and this, Janzi added, may lead folks to overconsume the product. “Context additionally issues — treats are sometimes loved in social settings or particular events, whereas sweetened drinks is likely to be consumed extra often,” Janzi stated. 

However what about those that eat little or no added sugar in any respect? How did they find yourself with the brief finish of the stick?

“This would possibly replicate underlying dietary behaviors — people consuming little or no sugar might need very restrictive diets or is likely to be limiting sugar on account of pre-existing well being situations,” Janzi famous.

Nevertheless, Janzi did make a vital caveat about all these factors. This examine is observational in nature, with self-reported information. Typically, people may be extremely unreliable when self-reporting information. Which means the findings can recommend outcomes however can not “set up causation.” Nonetheless, sufficient of a sample has emerged that they will make strategies like “extraordinarily low sugar consumption will not be mandatory or useful for cardiovascular well being.”

Janzi additionally famous that this examine ought to solely be used as the start of the analysis, not the tip. “Our findings are primarily based on a Swedish inhabitants, which can have dietary habits and way of life components that differ from these in different populations,” the researcher acknowledged. “Significantly related on this context is the social customized of ‘fika’ — common espresso and pastry breaks which can be deeply embedded in Swedish tradition. These outcomes might circuitously translate to different populations with completely different dietary cultures.” However hey, if that is the inspiration it’s good to collect your mates for a chit-chat and a cookie, then by all means, do it. Simply attempt to maintain it to beneath six to 9 teaspoons of sugar per day, per the American Coronary heart Affiliation’s suggestions.