To prevent high blood pressure may be more important to cut down on sugar, as it is to reduce the salt in your diet, according to researchers. – Yes, thank you, both, believes LHL.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the commonest causes of death worldwide, especially in the western world . Hypertension is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
In a new research paper, US researchers have gone through a number of studies that have looked at the relationship between intake of sugar and salt and high blood pressure.
While cutting down on salt has been a common action to prevent high blood pressure, scientists believe that it may be more effective to focus on the reduction of added sugars you get from food and drink.
– Documentation from basic research, population studies and clinical trials suggest that added sugar plays an important role in the development of high blood pressure, the researchers wrote James J. DiNicolantonio and Sean C. Lucan in Journal Open Heart.
Reduced sugar consumption will simultaneously be positive in terms of obesity and type 2 diabetes, the researchers from Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
– Worldwide tied 180,000 obesity-related deaths to sugary drinks, the researchers wrote referring to a study that came last year.
– Reduce both salt and sugar
Health Professional advisor Erik Arnesen Norwegian Heart and Lung Association (LHL) believes it is very interesting that the researchers examines the relationship between sugar and high blood pressure.
– A high sugar intake leads to small increases in blood pressure on average, but it could mean a lot for public health, he said to ABC News.
Arnesen explains that US researchers have done a review of the research that supports their viewpoint, and that it is thus not a completely objective analysis. But he believes the researchers’ message is nonetheless important.
– This negative impact of sugar I do not think there are so many who are aware of, one rather think that it is bad for the teeth and helps you put on, continue Arnesen.
He is however disagree researchers conclude that it does not have as great an effect on blood pressure to reduce salt in food. The positive effect of salt reduction is documented in a number of good research, he emphasizes.
– Salt also has other damaging effects independent of blood pressure, for example heart muscle, blood vessels, adhesion of platelets and renal function. It is shown that these problems improved when salt intake is reduced, Arnesen says.
Read also: – Much sugar increases the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease
Much “invisible” sugar
The US researchers behind the new article stresses that it is sugar added to foods and beverages that are the problem, not sugar found naturally such as fruits and vegetables.
The researchers point fruktoserik corn syrup (high fructose corn syrup ), which has been widely used by the food industry in the United States since the 1970s, as particularly problematic. This sugar has been subject to quotas by the EU and thus less used in Europe, but it can change when it becomes quota-free in 2017.
The main challenge is that the food industry adds much sugar in the production of a variety of foods, they mean .
– Just like most of our salt intake does not come from the salt shaker, coming mostly from sugar, not from sugar bowl. Reducing your intake of added sugars, by reducing processed foods that contain it, will be a good place to begin, the researchers wrote.
Also the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that much of the sugar people are eating today is “hidden” in food that you do not think of as sweets. For example, a tablespoon of ketchup contain around four grams of sugar. It is roughly equivalent to a teaspoon of sugar.
– LHL wishes that the amount of added sugar in food is declared, so that it becomes easier for consumers to choose products with less sugar, says health advisor Erik Arnesen.
He explains that “brown sugar”, dextrose, dextrose, fructose, fructose syrup, honey, invert sugar, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, nectar, raw sugar and sucrose are all designations of added sugar .
– The earlier in the ingredient list the sugar is, the more sugar there is in the product, Arnesen says.
– The less sugar, the better
As of today WHO recommends that no more than ten percent of the daily energy intake should come from sugar. The same recommends Norwegian health authorities.
For an adult human corresponds around 50-60 grams of sugar per day, or half a bottle of soda.
– The documentation is still limited, but more than ten percent of the total calorie intake in the form of added sugars are associated with increased risk for heart disease, says Arnesen LHL.
– We believe that the less sugar, the better. American Heart Association recommends a maximum 8-9 teaspoons of sugar per day for adults, which corresponds to approximately 5 percent of calorie intake, he continues.
WHO is working to revise their recommendations, and some experts have wanted to halve recommended level, to five percent of the daily energy intake.
Five percent was also presented as a measure in the organizations proposed new guidelines that were put forward in March.
– We should aim five percent, while ten percent is a more realistic goal, said Professor Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s department of nutrition and health development, during a press conference in March.
It is expected that the WHO updated guidelines will come before the year.
Read more: WHO experts will halve sugar recommendation
Norwegian children consume too much sugar
In the United States is currently taking place is a debate whether it should be an official recommendation for added sugars. In Norway there has to eat less sugar has been part of the official recommendations since the 1960s, explains Arnesen.
Yet Norwegian children and young people in much more sugar than is recommended. High intake of sugar is thus primarily a challenge in this group, according to the Directorate of Health.
Norwegians sugar consumption increased in the 80s and 90s, but has decreased from 43 to 29 kg per capita per year since 2000.
According to the nationwide dietary survey Norkost, which was published in the summer 2012, getting older Norwegians on average were seven percent of the daily energy intake from sugar.
It was a record low level and is below current recommended level but above the WHO “ideal” level.
Read also: – Lifestyle change is unglamorous, but has an amazing effect
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