Was this information helpful? Average rating: 4.9/5 (76 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
Eating sugar raises heart disease risk factors such as cholesterol and triglycerides. For years, Americans were admonished to avoid cholesterol and saturated fat to control blood lipids. Sugary snacks didn't seem to be a threat. Now, research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that caloric sweeteners such as sugar and high fructose corn syrup can have a significant negative impact on LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Over 6,000 adults filled out dietary questionnaires and had blood drawn. Those who consumed the greatest percentage of calories from added sugars were most likely to have low levels of good HDL cholesterol. They also had higher triglyceride levels, which is an independent risk factor for heart disease. Perhaps it's time for Americans to start paying more attention to refined carbohydrates as a heart health risk.
Was this information helpful? Average rating: 4.9/5 (76 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
A female relative has eaten candy but very little else for many years. She is now 90 years old and in good health. She does take vitamins. A nurse recently commented "her bloodwork looks better than mine!" I will be interested to see if sugar turns out to be the culprit in heart disease for most people.
Many years ago the late Adell Davis in her book, “Let’s Eat right to Keep Fit’ wrote that fats alone were not such a problem but when coupled with sugar did raise ones cholesterol level.
Documentation was quoted dating back to the 40’s if I recall well.
Therefore, this information is not surprising. Corn syrup is simply bad news.
I am not surprised to read that sugar and high fructose corn syrup have a negative impact on lipid levels. However, what about the artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Equal, etc.? In fact, have any negative side effects at all been discovered for these sugar-replacement additives?
Thank you.
That's why low carb diets, a la Atkins, lowers cholesterol and fats so well! Years ago I was fortunate to have a doctor that was an osteopath. He told me that he had a patient that could not get her cholesterol down, even with meds. About that same time he went on the official Atkins (low carb) diet. His cholesterol and triglycerides went down. He put her (his patient) on the Atkins/low carb diet. He said that she attained normal readings SO quickly that it surprised him. He told me that he recommends low carb often.
I have looked at the Atkins diet several times and decided it was not for me, but this article and some of the comments by readers tell me perhaps I better reconsider. I am on lipitor now and it dropped my ldl from 167 to 112, but I cannot tolerate it full time even with co-q10 and grape juice with certo. I now take it 4 times per week and lay off 3 days. Body aches, and a god awful taste in my mouth results if I don't have the 3 days off.