Your consumption of sugars leads to higher risk of heart disease and weight gain

Research studies are telling us that consuming higher amounts of added sugars in the processed or pre-prepared foods we eat  is associated with lower HDL (good) cholesterol and higher triglycerides.  

Both of these result in a higher risk of heart disease.  Researchers recently looked at 6113 adults and ranked them according to how much added sugar they consumed.  

In the population studied the daily consumption of added sugars averaged out to about 21tsp or 359 calories.  Now this was the average so there were those who consumed less and those who consumed much more.  

The average HDL (good) cholesterol levels were lower amongst those who consumed higher amounts of added sugars.  Those who consumed greater than 10% of their calories from added sugars and lower HDL levels of 50-300% more than the reference group.  

Long term trials of this need to be conducted, but based on this initial study it is pretty clear that the more added sugars you eat the more likely you are going to suffer from lower HDL cholesterol levels, higher triglyceride levels and a higher risk for heart disease.  We already know that these added sugars lead to extra calories and more stored fat on your body.  

Cut out the added sugars and not only are you going to lose weight faster, but you will most likely live longer with a  lower risk of heart disease.

Resource:  Welse, JA, Sharma A, Abramson JL, Vaccarino V, Gillespie C, Vos MB. Caloric sweetener consumption and dyslipidemia among US adults.  JAMA. 2010; 303 (15): 1490-1497.