We all are aware that sugary drinks like soda, cold drinks and other aerated drinks are not good for health, but did you know that they can increase your heart disease risk significantly? Yes, you read that right. A recent Harvard study has revealed that sugary drinks and processed meats can increase the risk of heart disease by a lot.
Health experts have long cautioned against the consumption of sugary sodas and processed meats due to their negative effects on heart health. Excessive sugar intake has been linked to chronic inflammation in the heart and blood vessels, while processed meats—preserved through salting, curing, smoking, or chemical additives—are known to raise blood pressure.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has reinforced these concerns. The study tracked the dietary habits of over 200,000 health professionals for nearly 30 years, focusing on their consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The researchers aimed to determine whether these participants developed heart disease or suffered from strokes over time. The study, published in The Lancet, found that consuming sugary drinks, both regular and artificially sweetened, as well as processed meats, significantly increased the risk of heart disease.
The study revealed that 57 per cent of the average adult diet in the US is composed of UPFs, which often contain excess calories, added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats. To better understand the effects of UPFs, the researchers divided them into 10 categories:
– Bread and cereals (with subcategories of breakfast cereals, whole-grain bread, and refined-grain bread)
– Sauces, spreads, and condiments
– Packaged sweet snacks and desserts
– Packaged savoury snacks
– Sugar-sweetened beverages
– Processed meats (including red meat, poultry, and fish)
– Ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat meals
– Yogurt and dairy-based desserts
– Hard liquors
– Artificially sweetened beverages
The study found that the most commonly consumed UPFs were bread and cereals, sweet snacks and desserts, and ready-to-eat meals. However, the researchers emphasized that not all UPFs are equally harmful. For instance, certain savoury snacks, cold cereals, and yogurt/dairy-based desserts were linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Moreover, ultra-processed bread and cold cereals were associated with a reduced risk of stroke.
The study authors suggested that improving the nutritional quality of these foods by reducing sodium, saturated fats, added sugars, and unnecessary additives could enhance their overall value. For example, whole-grain bread and cold cereals could be made healthier with such modifications.
Despite these findings, the researchers emphasized that sugary drinks and processed meats should be discouraged due to their clear link to heart disease. They also pointed out that the nutritional quality of ultra-processed foods should be carefully considered before consumption.
However, the study did have some limitations, including a lack of detailed information about how the foods were processed. Additionally, the participants were not very diverse, with a limited number of non-white populations.