The higher the intake of added sugar, the higher the risk for heart disease.
The top sources of added sugar are soft drinks, fruit drinks, flavoured yogurts, cereals, cookies, cakes, candy, and most processed foods.
An average adult man can consume an average of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day which is equal to 384 calories. (Source: HHP)
Study shows that people who got 17% to 21% of their calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who consumed 8% of their calories as added sugar. (Source: HHP)
High amounts of sugar overload the liver because it metabolizes sugar and converts dietary carbohydrates to fat. This can lead to a greater accumulation of fat, which is a contributor to diabetes and heart disease.
Added sugar can raise blood pressure and increase chronic inflammation, which leads to heart disease.
Excess consumption of sugar contributes to weight gain by turning off the body's appetite-control system which is why extra calories get added to people’s regular diets.
A high-carb diet that is high in added sugar can also lead to insulin resistance, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease.
High sugar intake also leads to an increase in belly fat, weight gain, etc, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Thus, a high-carb diet with high sugar intake is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.