Almost everyone can agree that sugar tastes delicious. From candy to pastries and even cereal, sugar is added to many of America’s top selling foods in an effort to sweeten the deal for consumers. If you visit the dentist regularly, you are probably aware that too much sugar can cause tooth decay and eventually cavities. Most recently, however, a new study has been published that suggests an even more severe side effect to too much sugar consumption.
In a massive study of more than 42,000 Swedish men, researchers found that those who drank at least 2 sweetened beverages each day had a 23% greater chance of heart failure later in life. Findings are available online via British Medical Journal.
Commenting on the study, researcher and co-author Dr. Susanna Larsson says, “The takeaway message is that people who regularly consume sweetened beverages should consider limiting their consumption to reduce their risk of heart failure.” Dr. Larsson is an epidemiologist currently working in clinical neurology at the University of Cambridge.
While some consumers might be shocked by these findings, the link between soda and heart failure is not surprising to holistic health professionals who have been studying the toxicity of sugar for many years. On the Miami Dentist Blog, we shared two landmark studies published in 2012 in the article Sugar: The Friendly Enemy. The notorious findings from those studies include:
- Robert Lustig of the University of California, San Francisco, led a research team that found excessive sugar consumption may spike the production of fatty acids and LDL cholesterol in the body. As a result, high sugar diets are linked with rapid weight gain, as well as a higher risk of developing type II Diabetes and heart disease later in life.
- At the Harvard Medical School, Dr. Lewis Cantley led a team that found what many consider to be a more alarming discovery: Consumption of high fructose corn syrup—a “super sugar” found in many juices, sodas, cereals, and other processed foods—may increase the growth rate of cancer.
Learn More About Sugar Toxicity
To learn more about the impact of sugar on oral health and total body wellness, contact Assure a Smile for a personalized holistic health consultation and comprehensive dental cleaning.
