#3 Foods That Have Added Sugar
Foods with a lot of added sugar are bad for your health in general, but they could be particularly bad for your heart.
People who consumed 17 to 21% of their daily calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who consumed only 8% of their calories from added sugar, according to research published in the April 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Although scientists are unsure of the precise reason why this is the case, they do have a few theories to explain it: A diet that contains too many added sugars increases the risk of weight gain, elevated blood pressure, and inflammation in the body, which are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
People who consume additional sugars are also more likely to develop diabetes mellitus and have abnormal cholesterol levels, particularly excessive triglycerides. And it’s generally recognized that having diabetes greatly increases the risk of having a heart attack, a stroke, heart failure, and dying from heart-related causes.
The American Heart Association advises limiting added sugar in your diet to no more than 150 calories (9 teaspoons) per day or 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons). If you follow a 2,000-calorie diet, that amounts to roughly 5 to 7 percent of your daily intake of calories.
Try avoiding these foods that are high in added sugars:
- candy;
- sweet sauces like BBQ sauce and ketchup;
- cereals, and breakfast pastries;
- highly processed foods like granola bars, soups, and frozen foods.
