Not Only Diabetes, Sugar Is Also Dangerous For Hypertension

Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health

During this time you might think that salt causes hypertension or high blood pressure. Therefore, people with high blood pressure are advised to always limit their salt intake. In fact, food for people with hypertension seems bland or tasteless.

However, don't just blame salt. Why? Because it turns out besides salt, sugar also affects hypertension. Maybe all this time you thought sugar was just a cause of diabetes, but you don't get me wrong, sugar can also affect hypertension. For more details, see the following explanation.

Effect of sugar on hypertension

Recent research published by the Open Heart journal says that the addition of sugar intake is one of the factors that can increase the risk of hypertension and heart disease compared to salt intake. The study, chaired by James J. DiNicolantonio, proved that sugar in general and fructose in particular play an important role in developing the risk of hypertension and heart disease through various mechanisms.

According to the study, sugar can affect blood pressure by triggering metabolic dysfunction and increasing variability in blood pressure, levels of myocardial oxygen demand, heart rate, and inflammation.

You need to know that in packaged foods or processed foods (which must be limited for people with hypertension), not only salt or sodium contained in it, but also contain carbohydrates (sugar). Eating around 700 ml of soft drinks is proven to cause an average increase in blood pressure of 15/9 mmHg and heart rate of 9 bpm. Therefore, researchers concluded that sugar can more affect blood pressure than salt.

JAMA's study comparing people who consumed less than 10% of calories from sugar with people who consumed 10-24.9% of calories from sugar also showed that people who consumed more calories from sugar had a 30% higher risk of heart disease. while those who consume 25% or more of sugar have a risk three times greater.

Sugar can increase body weight associated with blood pressure

The results of the DiNicolantonio study are also in line with the results of a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014. This study by Te Morenga showed that participants who consumed higher sugar could increase systolic blood pressure by 6.9 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 5 , 6 mm Hg in research for 8 weeks or more.

Based on these studies, excessive intake of fructose in the diet, especially from sweet drinks, is proven to increase fat synthesis in the liver which can result in increased triglyceride and cholesterol levels. In addition, uncontrolled fructose metabolism in the liver can also cause an increase in uric acid synthesis. Gout itself can stimulate the renin-angiotensin system to increase blood pressure. The study concluded that sugar can affect blood pressure and serum lipid independently due to the influence of sugar on body weight.

Too much consumption of foods that contain sugar in your daily diet can indeed cause excess calorie intake, which in turn can cause excess weight. If you are already overweight or obese, your risk of experiencing high blood pressure is getting bigger. Being overweight can increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood which adversely affect blood pressure.

Conclusion

The theory that more sugar can cause high blood pressure may still be controversial. However, what can be concluded is, reduce packaged foods or foods that contain high sugar to keep your blood pressure under control.

Very high intake of sugar in your diet is certainly not good for your health, regardless of whether you have high blood pressure or not. Some studies as mentioned above have also proven that reducing sugar consumption, both added and found in packaged foods, can reduce high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Therefore, keep applying a healthy lifestyle by having a balanced diet, regular exercise, maintaining weight, and not smoking to keep your body healthy and avoid various diseases.

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