Even sweetened juices and iced tea can up heart disease risk by 20% in women

Summer is here, which means it’s time for colas, juices, and lemonades to quench that insatiate summer thirst. 

This despite the fact that we know how many calories one can of cola has and just how bad it is for our health. And yet, we give in to the temptation, overpowered by the heat. 

But if you need another reminder as to why you shouldn’t, then read this. According to a study, sugar-rich drinks are for women’s heart health. 

A study, published in JAHA: Journal of the American Heart Association claims that women who drink more than one sugary beverage in a day have 20% higher chances of being diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. 

Higher chances of clogged arteries and stroke in woman who consume sugary drinks
In comparison to woman who hardly indulge in sugary drinks like colas, iced teas, and fruit drinks-women who do have 26% more chances of clogged arteries, suggest this study. 

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“We hypothesize that sugar may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in several ways. It raises glucose levels and insulin concentrations in the blood, which may increase appetite and lead to obesity, a major risk factor for heart disease,” said study lead author Cheryl Anderson from University of California San Diego in the US.

This study included more than 1,06,000 women, with an average age of 52, who had not been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke or diabetes when they enrolled in the study.

Women with the highest sugar-sweetened beverage intake were younger, more likely to be current smokers, obese, and less likely to eat healthy foods. Sounds like most of us! 

There were also differences based on the type of beverage women consumed.

Even preserved fruit-juices are no good
Drinking one or more sugar-added fruit drinks daily was associated with a 42% greater likelihood of having cardiovascular disease.

The findings showed that drinking soft drinks such as sodas daily was associated with a 23% higher risk of cardiovascular disease overall, compared to those who rarely or never drank sugary beverages.

“Too much sugar in the blood is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, insulin resistance, unhealthy cholesterol profiles and type 2 diabetes, conditions that are strongly linked to the development of atherosclerosis, the slow narrowing of the arteries that underlies most cardiovascular disease,” said Anderson.

This is how you can keep your heart health in check:

1. A study, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that eating vitamin-D rich diet can help you deal with heart hazards.
2. A study conducted by Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, suggests that eating three to six eggs in a week can keep your heart health in check.
3. According to the study, published in the journal Heart, taking a hot shower can also do a lot of good to your heart health.

Take our advice and stay away from sugary drinks this summer to lower down this health risk. 

(With inputs from IANS)