Fruit juices and sodas hide a much more serious danger than a pack of candies. It is the conclusion of a vast Swedish study carried out on 70,000 people for 22 years, which reveals that sugary drinks greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, unlike occasional consumption of treats.
Sweet drinks pointed out
Candy has long been considered the sworn enemy of health. But a Swedish study published in Frontiers in Public Health Change the situation: out of 70,000 participants followed for 22 years, the researchers found that fruit juices and other sugary drinks presented an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, higher than that linked to treats consumed from time to time.
The National Health Safety Agency (ANSES) recommends that they do not exceed 100 g of sugars per day, excluding lactose and galactose, and no more than a glass of sugary drink. The World Health Organization (WHO), for its part, sets the limit to 10 % of daily energy intake, or about 50 g for a diet of 2000 kcal. However, the majority of industrial juices already exceed these thresholds.
Why liquids are more dangerous
According to Suzanne Janzi, doctoral student at the University of Lund and the author of the study, the problem comes from the form of sugar: “Liquid sugars, present in sugary drinks, generally provide less satiety than solid forms. They make you feel less full, which can lead to overconsumption“.
In other words, a soda or fruit juice passes faster in the body than a solid food, without braking the desire to eat. This mechanism would explain why regular consumers of sugary drinks are more exposed to aneurysm, stroke or heart failure.
“”This surprising contrast underlines the importance of taking into account not only the amount of sugar consumed, but also its source and its context“Adds the researcher.
Rehabilitated candies … but in moderation
To everyone’s surprise, the study suggests that treats are not to be completely banished. “”These results suggest that extremely low sugar consumption may not be necessary or beneficial for cardiovascular health“Underlines Suzanne Janzi.
In a press release, researchers even believe that “The highest risks of negative health effects have occurred in the lowest treaty consumption category. The occasional consumption of treats was associated with better results than the absence of treats“.
Be careful however: 60 million consumers recall that many candies contain dyes, additives and sometimes nanoparticles. Clearly, if a sweet pleasure is not to be demonized, excess remains a poison.