SWEETEST SIN: Study finds eating sugared treats can lead to heart trouble
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ostmedia News
Publishing date:Apr 23, 2021 • 6 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
Cheerful young woman eating chocolate at home.
Cheerful young woman eating chocolate at home. PHOTO BY FILE PHOTO /Getty Images
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Anyone who loves their sweat treats may want to stop reading.
That’s because a new study suggests consuming sugared goods such as chocolate can be bad for your heart in your middle age.
According to researchers from the University of Oxford, ingesting high-sugared drinks and eating too much chocolate or candy increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The new study, published by the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, also noted the sugared products can lead to increased risk of death during middle age.
“Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death and disability in the U.K. and poor diet is a major contributor to this,” Dr. Carmen Piernas, a nutritionist and corresponding author of the study, said in a media release. “The most common dietary guidelines are based on the nutrients found in foods rather than foods themselves and this can be confusing for the public.”
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“Our findings help identify specific foods and beverages that are commonly eaten in Britain and that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality,” Piernas said.
More than 116,800 people aged 37 to 73 from England, Scotland and Wales participated in the study, with research teams tracking each participant over a 15-year period.
The findings show two specified diets were linked to premature death in middle-aged adults.
The first diet consisted of large quantities of chocolate, candy, white bread and butter, with fewer fresh fruits and vegetables.
The second diet consisted of very sugary beverages, fruit juice, candy, chocolate, table sugar and preserves, with fewer quantities of butter and high-fat cheese.
Researchers concluded that younger men from poor backgrounds tended to eat more chocolate, confectionery, butter and white bread. They also found the individuals were more likely to be smokers, less physically active, obese or have high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, those who consumed more sugary drinks and preserves had a high risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. This despite being more physically active. Those studied who consumed these products were also less likely to be obese, smokers, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Those consuming these diets who had the highest risk of heart disease were women, those under age 60 or the obese.
So how did researchers come to these conclusions? Study participants reported their meal and snack consumption over a 24-hour period on two to five separate instances.
The scientists identified the nutrients and foods each person ate, then calculated the incidence of heart disease and mortality using hospital admission and death records from 2017 and 2020.
Piernas said research suggests consuming less chocolate, sweets, butter, low-fibre bread, sugar-sweetened drinks, fruit juice, preserves and table sugar can be associated with a lower risk of heart disease or death during middle age.
torontosun.com
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublishing date:Apr 23, 2021 • 6 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
Cheerful young woman eating chocolate at home.
Cheerful young woman eating chocolate at home. PHOTO BY FILE PHOTO /Getty Images
Article content
Anyone who loves their sweat treats may want to stop reading.
That’s because a new study suggests consuming sugared goods such as chocolate can be bad for your heart in your middle age.
According to researchers from the University of Oxford, ingesting high-sugared drinks and eating too much chocolate or candy increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The new study, published by the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, also noted the sugared products can lead to increased risk of death during middle age.
“Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death and disability in the U.K. and poor diet is a major contributor to this,” Dr. Carmen Piernas, a nutritionist and corresponding author of the study, said in a media release. “The most common dietary guidelines are based on the nutrients found in foods rather than foods themselves and this can be confusing for the public.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“Our findings help identify specific foods and beverages that are commonly eaten in Britain and that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality,” Piernas said.
More than 116,800 people aged 37 to 73 from England, Scotland and Wales participated in the study, with research teams tracking each participant over a 15-year period.
The findings show two specified diets were linked to premature death in middle-aged adults.
The first diet consisted of large quantities of chocolate, candy, white bread and butter, with fewer fresh fruits and vegetables.
The second diet consisted of very sugary beverages, fruit juice, candy, chocolate, table sugar and preserves, with fewer quantities of butter and high-fat cheese.
Researchers concluded that younger men from poor backgrounds tended to eat more chocolate, confectionery, butter and white bread. They also found the individuals were more likely to be smokers, less physically active, obese or have high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, those who consumed more sugary drinks and preserves had a high risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. This despite being more physically active. Those studied who consumed these products were also less likely to be obese, smokers, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Those consuming these diets who had the highest risk of heart disease were women, those under age 60 or the obese.
So how did researchers come to these conclusions? Study participants reported their meal and snack consumption over a 24-hour period on two to five separate instances.
The scientists identified the nutrients and foods each person ate, then calculated the incidence of heart disease and mortality using hospital admission and death records from 2017 and 2020.
Piernas said research suggests consuming less chocolate, sweets, butter, low-fibre bread, sugar-sweetened drinks, fruit juice, preserves and table sugar can be associated with a lower risk of heart disease or death during middle age.
SWEETEST SIN: Study finds eating sugared treats can lead to heart trouble
Anyone who loves their sweat treats may want to stop reading.
