Latest news with #KarenDellaCorte
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why sugary drinks are worse than sugary foods for health: BYU study
Eating your sugar is better for your health than drinking it. Brigham Young University researchers call sugar in beverages a 'major culprit' in the growth of type 2 diabetes cases. Not all sugars are equally risky, according to a new study they conducted that was just published in the journal Advances in Nutrition. BYU researchers including a pair of students teamed up with researchers at two Germany-based institutions for what's being called the 'largest and most comprehensive meta-analysis of its kind.' Their key finding is that the kind of sugar one consumes and its source are more important than previously thought and not all sugars carry the same degree of risk for diabetes. Sugar in drinks — think sodas and fruit juice — are 'consistently linked' to greater risk of type 2 diabetes, the study found. Other sugar sources showed no such link and, in some cases, might even be associated with reduced risk. Sugar itself is not inherently harmful, said lead author and nutritional sciences professor Karen Della Corte. The form and amount consumed make the difference. The research included analysis of more than 20 cohort studies from different regions of the world, including Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia and Latin America. They involved a half-million people. The researchers adjusted for body mass index, excess energy intake and several lifestyle factors, according to a BYU news release. The new study found: Each additional 12-ounce serving of sugar-sweetened beverages raised the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 25%. The risk, per the researchers, began with the first daily serving. They found no minimum threshold below which drinking a sugar-sweetened beverage was safe. With each added 8-ounce serving of fruit juice each day, risk of developing type 2 diabetes was smaller, but still increased by 5%. The risks are relative, according to the BYU research team. In the example of someone with a baseline 10% risk of developing type 2 diabetes, for instance, 'four sodas a day could raise that to roughly 20%, not 100%.' And individuals have their own baseline risks, depending on personal factors like genetics. The study found the surprising indication that 20g/day of table sugar and total sugar — which is the sum of all naturally occurring and added sugars in the diet — hinted at a protective relationship. How could that be? The researchers suggest that eating sugar and drinking it have different metabolic effects that may account for the difference in risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Sugar-sweetened drinks provide isolated sugars that kick off greater glycemic impact. That can overwhelm the liver's metabolic process and cause fatty liver and insulin resistance. Dietary sugars, though, when consumed in or added to nutrient-dense foods like fruit, dairy products and whole grains, don't overwhelm the liver. 'These embedded sugars elicit slower blood glucose responses due to accompanying fiber, fats, proteins and other beneficial nutrients,' per the research. So sugars eaten with whole foods are much less harmful than those consumed in liquid form, Della Corte said. She noted that the human body is not accustomed to processing and metabolizing the very high amounts of sugars found in sugar-sweetened beverages. 'Sugar has always been a part of the human diet. But in the modern age we're consuming it differently; we're consuming it in isolated amounts and not in the context of whole foods.' Della Corte said sugar is not a 'nutritional villain' on its own. What matters is how much you consume and in what form, as well as whether you're consuming it alongside macronutrients that can slow down its digestion. 'The body can metabolize small amounts of fructose without harm, but when consumed in excess — especially from sugar-sweetened beverages — the liver becomes overwhelmed. Unlike glucose, fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver, where it can be converted into fat through a process called de novo lipogenesis. This buildup of liver fat contributes to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is associated with insulin resistance. Over time, this can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,' Della Corte said. It's an unhealthy cycle. Della Corte said the study was unique in what it examined. Many other studies have looked at the impact of sugary sodas and other beverages, but not whether different types of sugar have different effects. It also examined the impact of sugar on different populations. Fruit juice is not as good for you as whole fruits. Whole fruits provide fiber, which benefits blood glucose regulation. Fruit juices have too much sugar without the nutritional benefits like fiber that can reduce the risk, Della Corte said. She said juices have nearly the same level of sugar as sodas have. It's somewhat less harmful because of the phytonutrients, but not enough to overcome all the potential harms. 'It's a poor substitute for whole fruits,' she said. She added that high glycemic index foods directly raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, while dietary sugar does not except in liquid form. 'This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health,' said Della Corte. 'Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form.' Type 2 diabetes was the sole health indicator used in the study. And the study didn't look at the impact of artificial sweeteners, such as those found in diet sodas. Della Corte did note that the people who consume artificial sweeteners often do so because they already have a higher risk of health issues like type 2 diabetes, which could further complicate interpreting a study of the impact of artificial sweeteners. BYU professors James LeCheminant and Dennis Della Corte, as well as students Tyler Bosler and Cole McClure were also co-authors on the study, along with German researchers Anette E. Buyken of Paderborn University and Lukas Schwingshackl of the University of Freiburg.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Breakfast 'health' staple linked to soaring rates of diabetes
Your daily glass of orange juice for breakfast is increasing your risk of diabetes, a study suggests. A group of researchers at the Brigham Young University has shown that drinking sugar instead of eating it is much more likely to lead to the chronic illness. In contrast, other sugar sources such as fruits and honey showed no such link and in some cases, were even associated with decreasing the risk. Dr Karen Della Corte, lead author and a BYU nutritional science professor said: 'This is the first study to draw clear dose-response relationships between different sugar sources and type 2 diabetes risk. 'It highlights why drinking your sugar, whether from soda or juice is more problematic for health than eating it.' Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition and over 37 million American adults suffer from this form of the chronic illness. It is caused by either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the body's cells not responding properly to insulin. This leads to high blood sugar levels and a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, which can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart. The researchers reviewed 29 cohort studies on the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in healthy adults, based on dietary sugar (total, free, added, fructose, sucrose) or two sugary beverage sources (non-diet sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice). After collecting over 800,000 people's data across multiple continents including Europe, US, Australia and Asia, the scientists then analyzed it using multiple statistical models. Results showed that each additional eight ounce serving of fruit juice per day increased the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by five percent. On the other hand, each additional 12-oz serving of sugar sweetened beverages including sodas, energy and sports drinks raised the risk by 25 percent. A single eight-ounce glass of orange juice contains about 18 to 21 grams of sugar - which is nearly a woman's entire recommended daily amount. According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 36 grams or 150 calories of sugar per day while women should consume no more than 25 grams or 100 calories per day. While seeming healthy, fruit juice is known to have a high sugar content as they tend to have added sugars and additives. Even with added vitamins and nutrients, the high added sugar content in juices can overwhelm and disrupt liver metabolism - increasing liver and pancreas fat. Over time, this can lead to inflammation and result in problems with insulin release and absorption in the body - paving the way for Type 2 diabetes. As compared to whole fruits, juice also lacks the beneficial fiber, which can disrupt gut health and impact metabolism. Experts have long recmmended eating whole fruits instead of drinking branded juices as they packed with fiber, which is essential for gut health, regulating blood sugar levels and keeping you feeling full. Commercial juices, often have little to no fiber as it's removed during the juicing process to make the liquid free-flowing and more flavorful. The skin and pulp of whole fruits also contains valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are often discarded during juicing. Due to its natural origin, honey too can be a healthier option to consume rather than fruit juices as it does not cause as rapid a spike in blood sugar and contains trace amounts of vitamins as well as minerals. Dr Della Corte said: 'This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health. 'Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form.' The study was published in the journal Advances in Nutrition in May 2025.
