In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleHow Was the Study Conducted and What Did It Find?What Does This Mean?How Does This Apply to Real Life?
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
How Was the Study Conducted and What Did It Find?
What Does This Mean?
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
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Photo:Getty Images. EatingWell design.
Getty Images. EatingWell design.
Americans have long had alove affair with sugary drinks, from fizzy sodas to sweetened fruity beverages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 50% of American adults drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage every day.
It is no secret thatconsuming excessive amounts of added sugarsfrom any source is linked to negative health outcomes, including an increased risk fordeveloping obesity, heart disease, dental cavities and more.But a new study published inFrontiers in Public Healthsuggests that sipping on sugary beverages could actually be worse for our health than consuming other forms of added sugar.
Data has already established thatconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages—think soda, fruit drinks and sweet tea made with real sugar—is linked to negative health outcomes.Still, whether drinking sugar-sweetened beverages has the same or similar effect on health outcomes when compared with other sources of added sugar has not been established.
To determine the link between added sugar intake from three categories of sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and risk of seven cardiovascular diseases, researchers evaluated diet and lifestyle data from 69,705 Swedish adults between the ages of 45 and 83, over a 22-year period. The three food and drink categories included:
After analyzing the relationships between consuming certain sugar-sweetened foods or drinks and incidence of heart-health outcomes, including ischemic stroke, heart failure and aortic stenosis, researchers determined that there is a relationship between consuming added sugars from any source and ischemic stroke and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
When it came to evaluating the relationship between consuming sugar-sweetened drinks specifically and health outcomes, the researchers showed that greater consumption was linked to greater incidence of some cardiac issues.
Specifically, researchers found that drinking more than eight servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per week was associated with a:
Interestingly, the researchers noted that a low intake of treats was associated with a higher risk of all the studied outcomes. Consuming fewer sugary “toppings” (table sugar, honey, jams and marmalades) was linked to greater incidence of heart failure and aortic stenosis.
When it comes to the treats and toppings, the authors note that these findings require further investigation and interpretation. They speculate that because treats and toppings are typically not consumed in isolation, people who eat them may be eating other nutrient-dense foods at the same time, potentially counteracting the potential negative effects.
They also highlight the social tradition of “fika” in Sweden, where people gather with friends, family or colleagues for coffee and pastries.This suggests that the consumption of treats could be a regular part of many individuals’ daily routines, without necessarily reflecting poor overall dietary or lifestyle patterns. Instead, it may serve as a marker of social interaction and community engagement, which may have positive effects on overall health.
To limit your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and promote heart health,consider the following tips:
The Bottom Line
The link betweenconsuming added sugarand cardiovascular diseases can vary depending on the specific disease and the source of the added sugar. So, not only is the quantity of added sugar important to consider, but also the type and source of added sugar may play a vital role in developing such conditions. Sugar-sweetened beverages have the strongest link to heart-health concerns, suggesting that there may be a significant benefit to limiting or avoiding these beverages.
The good news is that there are some delicious options out there for folks who want to find lower-sugar or zero-sugar drinks they’ll love. At home, try favorites like ourNo-Added-Sugar MargaritaorHibiscus-Pomegranate Iced Tea—we promise they’re just as refreshing as they look.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get the facts: sugar-sweetened beverages.Paglia L.The sweet danger of added sugars.Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2019;20(2):89. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2019.20.02.01.Janzi, S., González-Padilla, E., et al.Added sugar intake and its associations with incidence of seven different cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 Swedish men and women.Frontiers in Public Health,12. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452085Calcaterra V, Cena H, Magenes VC, et al.Sugar-sweetened beverages and metabolic risk in children and adolescents with obesity: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(3):702. doi: 10.3390/nu15030702.American Heart Association.Added sugars.Malik VS, Hu FB.Sugar-sweetened beverages and cardiometabolic health: an update of the evidence.Nutrients. 2019;11:1840. doi: 10.3390/nu11081840.Cené CW, Beckie TM, Sims M, et al. American Heart Association Social Determinants of Health Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; Prevention Science Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; and Stroke Council.Effects of objective and perceived social isolation on cardiovascular and brain health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11(16):e026493. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.026493.
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get the facts: sugar-sweetened beverages.Paglia L.The sweet danger of added sugars.Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2019;20(2):89. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2019.20.02.01.Janzi, S., González-Padilla, E., et al.Added sugar intake and its associations with incidence of seven different cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 Swedish men and women.Frontiers in Public Health,12. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452085Calcaterra V, Cena H, Magenes VC, et al.Sugar-sweetened beverages and metabolic risk in children and adolescents with obesity: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(3):702. doi: 10.3390/nu15030702.American Heart Association.Added sugars.Malik VS, Hu FB.Sugar-sweetened beverages and cardiometabolic health: an update of the evidence.Nutrients. 2019;11:1840. doi: 10.3390/nu11081840.Cené CW, Beckie TM, Sims M, et al. American Heart Association Social Determinants of Health Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; Prevention Science Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; and Stroke Council.Effects of objective and perceived social isolation on cardiovascular and brain health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11(16):e026493. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.026493.
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get the facts: sugar-sweetened beverages.Paglia L.The sweet danger of added sugars.Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2019;20(2):89. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2019.20.02.01.Janzi, S., González-Padilla, E., et al.Added sugar intake and its associations with incidence of seven different cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 Swedish men and women.Frontiers in Public Health,12. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452085Calcaterra V, Cena H, Magenes VC, et al.Sugar-sweetened beverages and metabolic risk in children and adolescents with obesity: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(3):702. doi: 10.3390/nu15030702.American Heart Association.Added sugars.Malik VS, Hu FB.Sugar-sweetened beverages and cardiometabolic health: an update of the evidence.Nutrients. 2019;11:1840. doi: 10.3390/nu11081840.Cené CW, Beckie TM, Sims M, et al. American Heart Association Social Determinants of Health Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; Prevention Science Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; and Stroke Council.Effects of objective and perceived social isolation on cardiovascular and brain health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11(16):e026493. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.026493.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get the facts: sugar-sweetened beverages.
Paglia L.The sweet danger of added sugars.Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2019;20(2):89. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2019.20.02.01.
Janzi, S., González-Padilla, E., et al.Added sugar intake and its associations with incidence of seven different cardiovascular diseases in 69,705 Swedish men and women.Frontiers in Public Health,12. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452085
Calcaterra V, Cena H, Magenes VC, et al.Sugar-sweetened beverages and metabolic risk in children and adolescents with obesity: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(3):702. doi: 10.3390/nu15030702.
American Heart Association.Added sugars.
Malik VS, Hu FB.Sugar-sweetened beverages and cardiometabolic health: an update of the evidence.Nutrients. 2019;11:1840. doi: 10.3390/nu11081840.
Cené CW, Beckie TM, Sims M, et al. American Heart Association Social Determinants of Health Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; Prevention Science Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; and Stroke Council.Effects of objective and perceived social isolation on cardiovascular and brain health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.J Am Heart Assoc. 2022;11(16):e026493. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.026493.
