from British Medical Journal
For years we have been advised to limit the amount of salt in our diets, especially the added salt from processed foods. Now the British Medical Journal suggests another ingredient may play a greater role in high blood pressure and heart disease. Doctors at St. Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City say added sugar does more damage to our health. They write that sugars in general and fructose in particular may contribute to overall cardiovascular risk. They emphasize that naturally-occurring sugars found in fruits and vegetables are not harmful—and almost certainly beneficial to health. But just as most dietary salt does not come from the salt shaker, most dietary sugar does not come from the sugar bowl. Evidence is clear that even moderate amounts of added sugar for short durations may cause substantial harm.