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About 17 teaspoons of added sugar are consumed daily by people, which raises their risk of cardiovascular disease. A high intake of added sugar is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with the worst risk for those in lower income brackets. A new simulation study published in Circulation shared a model of how reducing sugar may help protect people's health. A primary cause of mortality, CVD is also thought to cost the country up to $318 billion annually.
“Sugar consumption impacts the risk for heart disease,” says Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition. “Too much sugar can make arteries sticky, leading to plaque deposition.”
In this study, researchers estimated changes in type 2 diabetes, CVD, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and cost-effectiveness of the United States using a microsimulation model. Initiative for National Salt and Sugar Reduction (NSSRI). The results were assessed over a 10-year period and throughout a lifetime among a simulated, nationally representative U.S. population.
“Sugar consumption impacts the risk for heart disease,” says Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition. “Too much sugar can make arteries sticky, leading to plaque deposition.”
Dietary added sugars are primarily derived from packaged and industrially produced foods. Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda are the main cause. Given this data, it is obvious that food producers are a critical component of any campaign to reduce sugar consumption. In 2018, the U.S. National targets for voluntary sugar reduction were proposed by NSSRI. It is hoped that the food industry will gradually reformulate sugary meals and drinks.
The proposal listed 13 food and beverage categories that could benefit from a 10% to 40% sugar reduction, including sugary drinks, sugary drinks, cakes, cookies, candies, cereals, and chocolate. This initiative also includes a second part that assists people in maintaining personal accountability for their own sugar intake. It also offers advice on how to encourage people to consume less sugar.
People consume a lot of sweet foods because they are delicious, widely accessible, and practical. However, this trend may have both short- and long-term financial and health repercussions. Even while everyone is responsible for their own health and dietary choices, it can be difficult to resist sweets that are widely available, delicious, and aggressively advertised.
“The food industry has a huge role in reducing sugar intake in People' diets, and it mostly comes down to ethics,” says dietitian Erin Pettygrove, RDN, CSCS. “The reason sugar intake has increased so much in the last 50 to 100 years is almost entirely due to availability and marketing. It is important for food companies to focus not only on profits but also on the health of their consumers."
Additionally, Andrews notes, consumers may progressively consume less sugar and be less prone to develop chronic health disorders if the government requires food firms to limit the amount of sugar in their goods. The FDA required the elimination of partly hydrogenated oils (PHOs, a source of synthetic trans fats) from food in 2015.
There are certain things you can do to reduce your individual sugar intake, even though the food business must play a part in lowering sugar consumption overall.
“Kick the can,” says Andrews. “Sweetened drinks are one of the biggest contributors to sugar intake. Swap them out with flavored seltzer water or unsweetened tea.”
Pettygrove advises avoiding soda and other sweetened drinks including iced tea, sugary cocktails, and upscale blended coffee drinks altogether or drastically cutting back (less than 1 serving per week). Andrews also advises getting enough sleep. Cortisol levels might rise due to sleep deprivation, which may lead to more cravings. Finally, she advises checking labels for the presence of added sugar.
“Every 4 grams of added sugar equals 1 teaspoon per serving,” says Andrews.
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