While it has always been warned that too much sodium could result in high blood pressure, new research is now showing that too much sugar, including drinking too much soda, may also have a similar effect on blood pressure as sodium. A new study reports that people who have a diet high in fructose, a type of sugar that is a main ingredient in high fructose corn syrup, had an increased chance in the development of high blood pressure.
A person who drinks more than two and a half cans of non-diet soda daily, or any equal value of fructose, has a much higher risk of developing hypertension by at least 30%. The more alarming find was that the fructose intake increases the risk for high blood pressure regardless of other dietary habits, such as carbohydrate, calorie and sodium intake control. The study focused on food products which contained a high level of high fructose corn syrup and other added sugars. Some of the food products tested including cookies, candy, chocolate, soda, and fruit punch. The researchers who conducted the study used 4,500 adults from the United States who had no history of high blood pressure, and analyzed their diet and blood pressure readings over the course of 4 years. The test subjects were given detailed surveys to fill out that included the diet and blood pressure information as well as other health measurements such as physical activity and body mass index. Using the surveys, researchers estimated that the average fructose intake was 74 grams per day, which is equivalent to about 2.5 cans of soda.
Although the findings do not prove that a high intake of fructose do cause high blood pressure, there is an apparent link. There could have been several unknown factors that also contributed to the increase in blood pressure levels. It should also be noted that a significant drawback of the study was the fact that participants filled out their own dietary surveys based on memory and therefore the data, including fructose intake, could be slightly off. While the study may not prove the fact that fructose causes hypertension, a reduced sugar diet is highly recommended for other health reasons. High intakes of sugars can lead to serious medical complications such as diabetes. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise are great natural ways to lower high blood pressure, as well as maintain good overall heath.
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