Sugary drinks in middle age ‘double risk of heart disease’

 Middle-aged adults who drink too many sugary drinks are twice as likely to die of heart disease, research shows.

Over six years, participants above the age of 45 who drank at least 24 ounces of sugary beverage daily were twice as likely to die from heart disease as those consuming less than one ounce.

Scientists also found an increased risk of death from all causes among those who drank the most sugary drinks. But there was no link between sugary foods and premature death. This might be related to the different ways sugary drinks and foods are processed. The team used data from almost 18,000 people in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions meeting in New Orleans.