Sweet Teeth May Cause Cardiac Arrest

As worldwide concerns about sugar consumption and obesity increase, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that cutting sugar can lead to weight loss. Recently, the WHO went so far as to say that free sugars should make up less than 10 per cent of the total energy intake in a person's diet (free sugars are sugar granules that are added by manufacturers, chefs and consumers to food or beverages). And if that's not enough for people to look at their sugar intake, recent research in the scientific community has shown that gaining weight is not the only problem with eating sugar - in fact, you could mean the whole life.

The Trouble with Sugar

The University of Texas Health Center at Houston reports that the white, crystallized substance to which so many people around the world are addicted could be a serious threat to your heart. A small molecule called glucose 6-phosphate accumulates when we eat too much sugar or too much starch. It puts stress on the heart, alters muscle proteins, and can make it harder for our hearts to pump blood, and eventually cardiac arrest.

The discovery was made by doctors following preclinical trials in animal models. After testing tissue taken from patients who had a piece of heart muscle removed, they found that heart damage was caused by glucose 6-phosphate or G-6P. The chief investigator points out that many Americans have already stressed their heart muscles due to high blood pressure and that adding too much glucose can only "insult harm".

Heart patients can be treated with diuretics to control the fluid around the heart, as well as beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors to lower the stress on the heart and allow it to pump better; but such approaches may increase your risks of cardiac arrest. The Centers for Disease Control reports that heart failure kills approximately 5 million Americans each year. Approximately 550,000 new people are diagnosed with heart failure each year in the United States.

We Eat What We Eat

Statistics show that most American adults consume 13 percent of their calories from added sugars. This adds a lot of extra calories which contributes to fat, as well as stress on the heart. Nutritionists add that when we eat a lot of sugary foods, we tend to avoid healthier foods like fruits and vegetables.

How To Reduce Your Sugar

There are ways to reduce your risk of cardiac arrest and obesity while still enjoying sweets. You can cut back on foods with added sugars and make it easier to get the nutrients your body needs. Here are some suggestions offered by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic:

• Choose fresh fruit for dessert instead of cakes and pies
• Add fresh fruit to water instead of sugary sodas and sports drinks
• Use condiments sparingly, they all contain sugar
• Avoid sugary, frosted cereals
• Eat low-fat cheese and yogurt and avoid snacks such as pastries and cookies

For those who are very concerned about heart health, it may be worth keeping a food diary. Many people do not really realize how much sugar they are consuming. Keeping a food diary can help you keep track of how much sugar you are ingesting. You may be surprised to know your daily sugar intake. So much so that it could cut you back before it's too late.