Concerned about heart health? Ditch the soda, pick the ice-cream

Are you someone who reaches out for an after-meal delicacy every time you fill yourself with something scrumptious? Whether it’s a yummilicious dessert, or a candy bar; sometimes a can of soda, sometimes a cone of ice-cream? Then, this article is especially curated for you!
We know it’s hard; to pick between an after-meal sweet indulgences, especially if you have a massive sweet tooth. However, the heart doesn’t always want what the heart wants!
Let us elaborate…
The indulgence in sweet treats might be something that your heart craves from time to time. However, overindulgence in this area is not a good feat for the heart health. And especially, if that indulgence is in a beverage like soda, then you ought to be more careful.
According to a study published in the latest edition of the journal Frontiers in Public Health, drinking more than eight sweetened beverages per week was linked to a 19% increased risk of stroke, an 18% increased risk of heart failure, and a 31% increased risk of aneurysm compared to drinking less than one per week.
However, on the contrary – such dramatic risks were not observed even among people who reported frequently adding sugary toppings or eating treats like ice cream and chocolate.

What does the research say?

Researcher Suzanne Janzi, a PhD candidate at Sweden’s Lund University, said in a news release, “The most striking finding from our study is the divergent relationship between different sources of added sugar and cardiovascular disease risk. This surprising contrast highlights the importance of considering not just the amount of sugar consumed, but its source and context.”

Diet is considered one of the top ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, and much research has focused on the benefits of reducing fat intake, limiting alcohol, avoiding processed foods, and increasing plant-based options. This latest study sought to examine whether specific sources of added sugar were related to certain types of cardiovascular problems, including stroke, aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure, an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, or a heart valve problem called aortic stenosis.

Key factors and takeaways from the research:

For the aforementioned research, the researchers compiled data for nearly 70,000 people ages 45 to 83 living in Sweden who self-reported their dietary patterns in 1997 and again in 2009. They tracked the people to see if they developed cardiovascular problems over more than 20 years. The team analysed added sugar intake based on three categories, that are: sweetened beverages, sweetened toppings (table sugar, jam, marmalade, or honey), and sweetened treats like ice cream, pastries, and chocolate.
The people who reported consuming the most sugar tended to be men and reported higher exercise levels and lower levels of education, compared to people who didn’t consume much sugar. People who ate the most sugar usually were older and reported drinking a lot of sweetened beverages and adding sweetened toppings rather than eating pastries, ice cream, chocolate, and candy.

However, the researchers noted a few limitations to their study as well that include people self-reporting what they ate and drank, which can sometimes be inaccurate. And the study participants were not diverse and all lived in Sweden, so the results may not readily translate to health risks for people living elsewhere.

Side-effects of consuming soda:

Drinking soda and other sugary drinks can have several negative effects on your heart health, including:
Cardiovascular disease: Drinking one sugary drink per day can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by about 18%, and drinking two or more per day can increase your risk by 21%.
Irregular heart rhythms: Drinking two liters or more of sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened drinks per week can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, by 10% or 20%, respectively.
High blood pressure: Sugary drinks can contribute to high blood pressure.
Heart palpitations: Caffeine in soda can trigger heart palpitations in some people.

Other health problems: Drinking sugary drinks can also increase your risk of weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities. The added sugar in sugary drinks can lead to: chronic inflammation and higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
On the other hand, ice cream can be part of a heart-healthy diet in moderation, instead of choosing soda as an after-meal sweet treat. However, it is important to remember that it also contains saturated fat, added sugar, and flavourings.