Drinking too many soft drinks and eating a lot of sweets may put even otherwise healthy people at increased risk of heart disease, warns new research.
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Study:
- The study showed that healthy men had increased levels of fat in their blood and fat stored in their livers after they consumed a high sugar diet.
- Our findings provide new evidence that consuming high amounts of sugar
- In addition,can alter your fat metabolism in ways that could increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
- The researchers looked at two groups of men with either high or low levels of liver fat and fed them a high or low sugar diet.
- The low sugar diet contained no more than 140 calories a day worth of sugar.
- An amount close to the recommended intake – while the high sugar diet contained 650 calories worth.
- After 12 weeks on the high sugar diet, the men with a high level of liver fat – a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- Showed changes in their fat metabolism that are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes.
- Fat metabolism is the biochemical process by which fats are transported and broken down in the blood, and used by the cells of the body.
Results:
- The results also revealed that when the group of healthy men with a low level of liver fat consumed a high amount of sugar.
- In addition,their liver fat increased and their fat metabolism became similar to that of the men with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- While most adults don’t consume the high levels of sugar we used in this study.
- Some children and teenagers may reach these levels of sugar intake by over-consuming fizzy drinks and sweets,Researchers said.
- This raises concern for the future health of the younger population.
- Especially in view of the alarmingly high prevalence of NAFLD in children and teenagers, and exponential rise of fatal liver disease in adults,” Griffin added.