Sugary Beverages Increase The Risk Of Cardiovascular Issues, Study Suggests

New findings published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that beverages that are sweetened with low, medium and high amounts of high-fructose corn syrup significantly boost the risk of heart disease even when consumed by young and healthy individuals. 

Researchers at the University of California-Davis found that even when consumed for just about two weeks by young and healthy men and women, sugary beverages boosted the risk of heart issues.

"These findings clearly indicate that humans are acutely sensitive to the harmful effects of excess dietary sugar over a broad range of consumption levels," said lead study author Kimber Stanhope, in a news release. 

For the study, researchers gathered data from 85 participants, including men and women ranging in age from 18 to 40 years. All participants were placed in four different groups. During 15 days of the study, they consumed beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup equivalent to 0 percent, 10 percent, 17.5 percent or 25 percent of their total daily calorie requirements.

The 0-percent control group was given a sugar-free beverage sweetened with aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
Researchers used hourly blood draws to monitor any changes in lipoproteins, trigylcerides and uric acid at the beginning and the end of the study, which are all known indicators of cardiovascular disease risk.

Researchers found that risk factors increased as the dose of high-fructose corn syrup increased. 

It's always a good idea to keep in check just how much sugar you may be putting in your coffee or tea and keeping the number of sodas you drink to a minimum. The amount of sugar you can healthily consume every day may also depend on any preexisting conditions and your risk for certain health issues. Keep in mind that too much sugar has also been linked to an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.