Researchers find that having the occasional sweet treat is better for your heart health than drinking sugary drinks or even avoiding sugar altogether. — AFP
Do you feel guilty every time you eat candy or cake?
But what about when you sip your favourite soft drink or fruit juice?
Swedish scientists have discovered that sugary drinks are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular (heart) disease, whereas this is not necessarily the case for sweet treats eaten on an occasional (and we do mean occasional!) basis.
Whether in the form of sucrose, fructose or maltose, all forms of sugar should be consumed in moderation, health authorities caution.
The World Health Organization (WHO), for example, recommends limiting sugar consumption to no more than 10% of total energy intake.
This is equivalent to 50 grammes of sugar when daily meals total 2,000 calories.
Consumer organisations have long been warning about the dangers of hidden sugars in a wide range of foods, making it all the more complicated to keep track of your daily sugar intake.
The Swedish study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Public Health, sheds fresh light on long-held ideas on this subject, such as avoiding sweet treats at all costs.
The findings paint a more nuanced picture, and once again raise the subject of the excessive sugar content of certain drinks, including fruit juices.
This type of beverage is known to contain proportions of sugars in excess of WHO guidelines, and it is usually considered better to bite into an apple rather than drink its juice.
This new study of some 70,000 people in Sweden, followed for 22 years from 1997 onwards, sounds the alarm about the harmful effects of sugary drinks, which can be worse than forms of sugar found in other sweet treats.
The explanation is quite logical: “Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, typically provide less satiety than solid forms – they make you feel less full – potentially leading to overconsumption.”
This was explained by study corresponding author and Lund University PhD candidate Suzanne Janzi.
In fact, this analysis shows that it’s not just about sugar as a whole, but rather about the way it is consumed.
“This surprising contrast highlights the importance of considering not just the amount of sugar consumed, but its source and context,” Janzi says.
And the findings shouldn’t be taken lightly, since our cardiovascular health could be at stake.
The scientists found that drinking sweet drinks was worse for cardiovascular health than any other form of sugar.
In fact, drinking more sweetened drinks significantly increased the risk of ischaemic stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The study not only lets us off the hook for eating the occasional sweet treat, but the researchers also found that the occasional indulgence could be better than banishing sugar entirely.
“While our observational study cannot establish causation, these findings suggest that extremely low sugar intake may not be necessary or beneficial for cardiovascular health,” says Janzi.
Ultimately, the researchers conclude in a news release that: “The highest risks of a negative health outcome arose in the lowest intake category for treats.
“Consuming occasional treats was associated with better outcomes than no treats at all.”
That said, take it easy on the candy!
Previous research, conducted by the French consumer group 60 millions de consommateurs, highlighted the amount of colourants, additives, and even nanoparticles, found in certain candy and other sweet treats. – AFP Relaxnews
