
There are at least 45 reasons to cut back on sugar, according to a new study.
Numerous studies have shown the negative effects of excessive sugar intake on health, which is why it is recommended to limit sugar consumption to less than 10% of a person's daily calorie intake.
However, researchers in China and the United States felt that before developing detailed policies to limit sugar, "the quality of existing evidence should be comprehensively assessed," according to the study published Wednesday in the journal The BMJ.
In a large review of 73 meta-analyses – involving 8,601 studies – high consumption of added sugar was associated with significantly higher risks of 45 negative health outcomes, including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, stroke heart, stroke, cancer, asthma, tooth decay, depression and early death.
"Free sugars" - the type of sugar the authors focused on - are those added during the processing of packaged foods, and found naturally in syrups, honey, fruit juice, vegetable juice, purees, pastries and similar products in which cellular structure of the food is broken, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. This category does not include sugars found naturally in fruits and vegetables.
"The study confirms that eating too much sugar is likely to cause problems," said Dr. Maya Adam, director of Health Media Innovation and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine.
"Studies like this are helpful in advising patients that seemingly small changes, such as cutting out excess sugar such as sugary drinks, can have a significant and positive improvement in health," said Medical Analyst Dr . Leana Wen.
High sugar consumption has been linked to obesity, which is a strong risk factor for various cancers. The same applies to cardiovascular diseases.
"Increased sugar intake can promote inflammation in the body, and that can cause stress on the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to increased blood pressure," behavioral scientist Brooke Aggarwal told CNN in February.
Highly processed foods, which can be high in free sugar, have been found to increase inflammation, a risk factor for depression.