Sugar and your heart

An April 20th CNN article by Tom Watkins, Sweet tooth? Here's news hard to live with, discusses the results of a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which focused on the link between added sugars and cardiovascular health. The study found that participants who consumed less added sugars had higher HDL ("good cholesterol") levels and lower blood trigylceride levels; meanwhile, those who consumed greater amounts of added sugars had lower levels of HDL and higher levels of triglycerides. The report also noted that 18.5 percent of Americans get at least 25 percent of their calories from added sugar. All this means that it's worthwhile to try to cut back on your intake of added sugars.


The easiest way to start reducing your intake of added sugars is to start eating more real, whole foods and fewer sugary beverages and processed foods. That means more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy and less soda, fruit juice and packaged foods and snacks. To read more about sugar, check out my post from Tuesday, March 30, 2010, "The (sweet and) lowdown on sugar."
 
Image: CNN.com

An April 20th CNN article by Tom Watkins, Sweet tooth? Here's news hard to live with, discusses the results of a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which focused on the link between added sugars and cardiovascular health. The study found that participants who consumed less added sugars had higher HDL ("good cholesterol") levels and lower blood trigylceride levels; meanwhile, those who consumed greater amounts of added sugars had lower levels of HDL and higher levels of triglycerides. The report also noted that 18.5 percent of Americans get at least 25 percent of their calories from added sugar. All this means that it's worthwhile to try to cut back on your intake of added sugars.


The easiest way to start reducing your intake of added sugars is to start eating more real, whole foods and fewer sugary beverages and processed foods. That means more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy and less soda, fruit juice and packaged foods and snacks. To read more about sugar, check out my post from Tuesday, March 30, 2010, "The (sweet and) lowdown on sugar."
 
Image: CNN.com