11/07/2025
Is Sugar the Silent Killer Behind Heart Disease?
A wave of new research is making something very clear: eating too much sugar may be far more dangerous for your heart than we once believed—even if your cholesterol looks normal and you’re not overweight. High sugar intake can drive up blood pressure and trigger the liver to pump out harmful fats, placing major strain on your cardiovascular system. In fact, some studies show that when added sugars make up 25% or more of your daily calories, the risk of dying from heart disease can more than double.
Why Excess Sugar Is So Damaging to Your Heart
📌 Chronic inflammation: A high-sugar diet promotes ongoing inflammation, which injures blood vessels and speeds up the development of plaque in the arteries.
📌 Higher blood pressure: Sugar can raise blood pressure, one of the strongest predictors of heart disease and stroke.
📌 Elevated triglycerides: High sugar intake dramatically boosts triglycerides—fat particles in the bloodstream strongly tied to cardiovascular risk.
📌 Insulin resistance: Too much sugar can cause insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, both of which massively increase the likelihood of heart disease.
Cholesterol still matters, of course—but the science now shows that excess sugar is just as powerful, if not an even more direct driver of heart damage. Cutting back on added sugars is one of the most impactful steps you can take to protect your heart and your long-term health.