Diabetes risk: Sweetened drinks cause more damage than sugary foods
| Updated: Nov 23, 2018, 15:41 IST
Are you fond of sweetened drinks? Do you drink them often? A new study has found that sweetened drinks can pose a greater risk of type 2 diabetes than most other foods containing sugar. Foods such as fruits which naturally contain fructose seem to pose no risk of diabetes and also do not have any harmful effects on blood glucose levels. “These findings might help guide recommendations on important food sources of fructose in the prevention and management of diabetes,” said Dr. John Sievenpiper, the study’s lead author.
Fructose is found naturally in many foods such as whole fruits and vegetables, natural fruit juices and honey. It is also added to foods, such as soft drinks, breakfast cereals, baked goods, sweets, and desserts and is termed as 'free sugars'. While it is thought that in naturally present foods it poses little risk of damage to health, when present in foods as free sugars, it can cause serious damage like causing type 2 diabetes.
“Until more information is available, public health professionals should be aware that harmful effects of fructose sugars on blood glucose seem to be mediated by energy and food source,” the researchers said. So, ensure that you limit your intake of sugary drinks and fizzy drinks. Try to opt for natural drinks instead like fresh fruit juices which do not contain any artificial sugar.
Fructose is found naturally in many foods such as whole fruits and vegetables, natural fruit juices and honey. It is also added to foods, such as soft drinks, breakfast cereals, baked goods, sweets, and desserts and is termed as 'free sugars'. While it is thought that in naturally present foods it poses little risk of damage to health, when present in foods as free sugars, it can cause serious damage like causing type 2 diabetes.
“Until more information is available, public health professionals should be aware that harmful effects of fructose sugars on blood glucose seem to be mediated by energy and food source,” the researchers said. So, ensure that you limit your intake of sugary drinks and fizzy drinks. Try to opt for natural drinks instead like fresh fruit juices which do not contain any artificial sugar.