Better to Eat Bread and Snacks... Foods That Are Fatal to Cardiovascular Health

Proper Snack Consumption Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk
'Liquid Fructose' Is Different... "Overeating Due to Lack of Satiety"

A study has drawn attention by revealing that beverages containing 'high-fructose corn syrup' are far more detrimental to cardiovascular health than sweet snacks.

A joint research team from Lund University in Sweden and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark published their findings on the effects of sugars such as sugary snacks and high-fructose corn syrup on health in the international journal Frontiers in Public Health on the 9th.

Consumption of sweet snacks such as bread and chocolate does not significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, even with higher intake. In fact, a lower intake of sweet snacks was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Getty Images

This study analyzed survey results on the dietary habits of approximately 70,000 men and women aged 45 to 83 in Sweden, conducted twice in 1997 and 2009.

The core of the research was tracking the participants' "sugar intake pathways." For example, the study differentiated sugar consumption from sweet beverages, snacks, coffee, or tea. It also followed up until 2019 to observe how sugar intake affected the incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart attack.

The analysis showed that even with increased consumption of sweet snacks like bread and chocolate, the risk of cardiovascular disease did not significantly increase. In fact, lower intake of sweet snacks was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Specifically, people whose daily calorie intake consisted of 5?7.5% sugar had a 17% lower risk of stroke and a 20% lower risk of heart failure compared to those consuming less than 5% sugar.

On the other hand, individuals who consumed sweet beverages containing high-fructose corn syrup showed negative effects on cardiovascular health. Particularly, those who drank carbonated beverages eight or more times per week had a 33% higher risk of coronary artery disease compared to those who consumed less, with heart failure and stroke risks increasing by 20% and 10%, respectively.

Beverages containing high-fructose corn syrup, such as soft drinks, have been found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Photo by Pixabay

Regarding these findings, the joint research team concluded that "occasionally eating sweet snacks may be better for the heart than completely avoiding sugar."

They further analyzed that "people who avoid sugar entirely or consume it in very small amounts are more likely to eat unhealthy foods such as saturated fats instead."

However, high-fructose corn syrup is different. The research team explained, "The problem with high-fructose corn syrup is that it does not provide a feeling of fullness when consumed," adding, "This can lead to overeating. The results of this study emphasize that sugary beverages have the greatest impact on cardiovascular disease."