WATCH THAT SYRUP

It can give you a cardio- metabolic disorder before you know it

SWEET AS THEY MIGHT SEEM, SUGAR sweetened beverages ( SSBs) are actually poison for your cardio metabolic health. The World Health Organization reports that at least 19 million deaths a year are a result of cardio metabolic disorders— an umbrella term for cardio- vascular disease and conditions such as metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.

New research in the Journal of the Endocrine Society examined 36 studies published in the past 10 years— one as recent as September 2017— to point out a strong correlation between SSBs and a range of risk factors for cardio metabolic diseases. These include a large waistline, high level of triglycerides in the blood, low levels of ‘ good’ cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure.

Clubbing the findings of the 36 studies, the team of researchers, led by M. Faadiel Essop of the Stellenbosch University in South Africa, decided to investigate overall trends. They included clinical trials, both controlled and randomised as well as observational studies in their analysis.

A daily consumption of one SSB increased the risk of hypertension, and just two SSBs per week increased the risk for Type 2 diabetes. The researchers advocate the need for longer term studies and standardised research methods to deepen our understanding on how SSBs actually affect health.