How Does Sugar Effect the Heart?

Adding sugar to food makes food sweeter and tastier. Sweet treats are delicious, but consuming too much sugar on a regular basis is not healthy. In fact, eating too much sugar can be downright deadly. Even people who are not obese are at higher risk of developing heart disease due to increased sugar consumption.

A 15-year study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who got 17% to 21% of their calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed 8% of their calories as added sugar. The study was spearheaded by Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T. T. Chan School of Public Health.

“The effects of added sugar intake — higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke,” says Dr. Hu.

The easiest way to cut back on the sweet stuff is to stay away from foods that are processed and focus on eating whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables which contain fiber to mitigate sugar levels. This way, you have complete control over the amount of sugar you consume!

Make your diet work for you not against you.

Connect with me to experience what Functional Nutrition and Lifestyles can do for you.

Tommy Markov is a Functional Nutrition Professional and Wellness Educator with a Master’s in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. He specializes in healing the person, not the condition. He is passionate about uncovering the root cause of his client’s ailments and incorporating an integrative mind-body approach.

Tommy’s knowledge of the interconnectedness of body systems helps him identify imbalances before they manifest into dysfunction and disease, allowing for an effective preventative approach.

Tommy has been working in the health and fitness industry since his 20’s, ranging from health clubs, hospitals, medical practices to currently founding his own thriving practice, Living Wellness Solutions, after overcoming his own health challenges.

Tommy has appeared as a guest and expert speaker on numerous podcasts, speaking events, as well as being a nutrition and supplement consultant. Most recently, Tommy became a proud partner of F.L.O.W. Wellness Center in Abington, Pennsylvania, where he incorporates Functional Medicine and Nutrition along with various other healing modalities and practitioners.