10/06/2025
đźš« Study shows sugar raises your heart disease risk more than cholesterol.
Consuming too much added sugar—even without being overweight or having too much cholesterol—can dramatically increase your risk of dying from heart disease.
The find comes according to a landmark 15-year study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The research found that participants who got 25% or more of their daily calories from added sugars were more than twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as those who consumed less than 10%.
The risk climbed steadily with higher sugar intake, regardless of age, s*x, BMI, or overall diet quality. While sugary drinks like sodas and energy beverages were the biggest culprits, treats like pastries, candies, and ice cream also played a major role.
Researchers dismissed the idea that high sugar intake merely reflects a diet lacking in heart-healthy foods. Even among participants with good Healthy Eating Index scores, cardiovascular mortality increased with higher sugar consumption. Though the exact biological mechanisms are still being studied, sugar is known to raise blood pressure and drive the liver to release harmful fats into the bloodstream. Current U.S. dietary guidelines still lack a strict upper limit for added sugar, but experts recommend keeping it well below 10% of total daily calories. As Dr. Teresa Fung of the Harvard School of Public Health puts it, “If you're going to have something sweet, make it fruit—at least you're getting something good out of it.”
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine,
