American Heart Association Study Links Sugary Drinks to Increased Heart Disease Risk for Women

American Heart Association Study Links Sugary Drinks to Increased Heart Disease Risk for Women

The Journal of The American Heart Association (AHA) recently published findings of a study performed on 4,000 women with ages ranging between 45 to 84 years old, who drank at least two sugar-sweetened beverages each day.  The AHA reported that women who drank two sugary drinks per day are four times more likely to develop higher-than-normal levels of blood fats (triglycerides) in their blood, when compared to women who drank less than one sugary drink each day.  Thus, sugar-sweetened beverages are once again on the firing line when it comes to good health.  The AHA Study also confirmed that sugary drinks may increase a woman’s belly fat, which has also been linked to a number of health risks, including diabetes.

Surprisingly, the AHA Study confirmed that the risks of heart disease are even higher in women who didn’t gain weight during the study period.  Based upon this information, Christina Shay, PhD., an assistant professor of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, OK stated “…many people assume that drinking a lot of sugary beverages leads to obesity, and that drives up heart risks…Although that may occur, weight gain doesn’t explain the increased risk of heart disease associated with sugary beverages in this Study.”

The Sarasota-based company, AquaNew, manufacturer of Watt-Ahh®, an AquaNew® Water, continues to advocate the need for healthier beverage choices for all women, in order to be proactive in minimizing the risks for heart disease (which remains the leading cause of death in the United States, particularly in women aged 65 or older).  One health-wise tip is to blend Watt-Ahh® into a half of a bottle of a sugary beverage to maintain great flavor and reduce the amount of sugar consumption and caloric intake.

For more information on heart health, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth