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Robin Braun, 8/17/10 A study done between 2003 and 2006 by researchers at the University of Colorado suggests that those who had additional sugar in the form of fructose had higher blood pressure than those who consumed sugar through fruits. Over the three years of the study many of the study volunteers who did consume more fructose, had higher blood pressure and bigger waistlines. What is fructose? It is a simple sugar, or monosaccharide found in many foods and is one of the three important dietary monosaccharide’s along with glucose and galactose. The body can use fructose for energy. Fructose makes up 50 percent of table sugar and 55 percent of high-fructose corn syrup. Over the last 100 years, the percentage of Americans who have hypertension has gone up from 10 to 30 percent. Doctors are concerned that this is due to the steady rise of sugar consumption in the American diet, especially fructose An analysis of the data of the study showed that people who consumed around 75 grams of fructose each day appeared to be more likely to suffer from hypertension. Those with high sugar diets were 77 percent more likely to have blood pressure in the range of 160/100 or higher. Blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered to be hypertensive. Study researchers revealed that the correlation results remained unaltered even when the volunteers controlled things like total calorie intake, physical activity and presence of other health problems via consumption of salt, alcohol and carbohydrates. When all is said and done, doctors say that it is just not about blood pressure risk, but excess sugar can also lead to coronary artery blockages, strokes and kidney disease. Pay attention to the amount of fructose you are consuming daily. Less is best!
References:
Arizona Daily Star, Saturday July 3, 2010, Health and Science IBT Health, http://www.ibtimes.com/contents/20100702/is-extra-spoon-sugar-causing-hypertension.htm www.About.com |
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