A diet that contains high levels of fructose, in the form of added sugar, may not only scupper slimmers’ plans to lose weight, but also put them at risk of elevated blood pressure, a study has suggested.
Dr Diana Jalal and colleagues from the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center came to this conclusion after analysing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006).
This study involved 4,528 US adults who had no prior history of high blood pressure.
Their diets were assessed and Dr Jalal’s team found that people who consumed 74 grams or more of fructose per day, which is the equivalent of 2.5 sugary soft drinks, had a significantly greater risk of having high blood pressure.
"Our study identifies a potentially modifiable risk factor for high blood pressure," said Dr Jalal.
Earlier this year, research from Princeton University suggested that use of high-fructose corn syrup could make people put on more weight than other sweeteners.
Have you tried cutting down on sweet and sugary foods?
I cut back on all sugary drinks, while I was at collage I used to drink a lot of coke and fanta everyday from the vending machines but now I hardly have 1 a day. I’ve chose to have water or juice instead.
Ive always liked Sweet and sugary foods, trying to cut back but its quite difficult.
Regularly drink tea and always had 2 sugars with milk- now cut back to 1 sugar and eventually will be down to none, still eat choc now and there but cutting way back as much as I can.