Eating sugary foods, researchers have found,
increases the risk of dying from heart disease. Researchers analysed data from a
nationally representative sample of 31,147 adults, gathered in a larger 20-year
study of health and mortality.
The study was posted online in JAMA Internal
Medicine. All participants received physical examinations and responded to a
food questionnaire. The scientists calculated “added sugar” -- that is, all
sugar not found naturally in fruits and fruit juices, but instead in
sugar-sweetened beverages, dairy desserts, candy, cakes and other foods - as a
percentage of total calorie intake.
After adjusting for age, smoking, sex, BMI,
physical activity and other factors, they found that compared with people whose
calories were less than 10 per cent from added sugar, those whose intake was 10
to 25 per cent added sugar had a 30 per cent increased risk of cardiovascular
death.
Those whose diet was more than 25 per cent added
sugar almost tripled their risk.
