It’s probably not surprising that researchers link added sugar consumption to an increased risk of heart disease. But it seems unlikely that a new study concluded that those who occasionally consume sugary foods have a reduced risk of cardiovascular problems.
According to ScienceAlert, a research team from Lund University in Sweden says that eating sweets, cakes or chocolate every once in a while may be better for your heart than a sugar-free diet. However, this finding does not hold true for other types of sugar consumption, such as carbonated soft drinks or sweetened condiments.
Susan Janziepidemiologist and lead author of the study, says: “The most prominent finding of our study is the divergent relationship between different sources of added sugar and the risk of cardiovascular disease. “This surprising contrast highlights the importance of considering not only the amount of sugar consumed, but also its source and context.” He says the link between added sugar and heart disease risk can vary depending on where the sugar comes from. It is important not to focus only on the amount of sugar we eat and to pay attention to where it comes from.
The researchers examined the records of 69,705 people from Swedish public health databases. Participants between the ages of 45 and 83 were questioned about their diet and lifestyle in 1997 and 2009 and then followed up until 2019.
Not only the amount of sugar consumed but also its source is important
In the research, sugar consumption was divided into three categories including seasoning and sweet additives (such as honey), sweet foods (such as candies and sweets), and sweet drinks (such as carbonated soft drinks). The type of added sugar consumed was then matched to seven types of cardiovascular disease, including strokes and heart attacks, and several other risk factors (such as smoking) were taken into account.
The relationship between the type of diabetes and the type of heart disease was different. For example, sweet condiments have been linked to an increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms (bulges in blood vessels). However, overall, the lowest risk of all cardiovascular diseases was seen in people who occasionally indulged in a sweet treat.
When it comes to how you consume sugar, there are many factors to consider. For example, what other foods and drinks we consume with sugar and how regularly we incorporate added sugar into our diet.
The liquid sugars in sugary drinks tend to be less filling than solid forms of sugar, Janzi says, and so consuming them may lead to overeating. He also thinks that the environment of consumption is also important. Sweet foods are often used in special situations; But sugary drinks may be consumed more regularly.
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It should be noted that the findings of the study point to relationships instead of proving cause and effect. The research also did not consider other health consequences, such as damage to teeth, and these must be weighed against what we already know about sugar. The researchers suggest that future studies could look into the link between sugar, heart disease and obesity in more detail.
In the consumption of sugar, cultural factors should also be considered; For example, in Sweden, where the study participants were from, there is a popular and well-known ritual called “fika”, which involves a period of drinking coffee and eating sweets. This custom may affect the results of the study.
Studies on the effects of loneliness and stress on health show that traditions like Fika can have heart benefits. In the Fika tradition, people take time to rest and have regular social interaction with others, both of which are good for heart health.
“While our observational study cannot prove a causal relationship, these findings suggest that very low sugar intake may not be necessary or beneficial for cardiovascular health,” says Janzi.
The research is published in Frontiers in Public Health.