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Last updated on Monday, August 1, 2011
(UNDATED) - The American Heart Association is challenging the dietary guidelines for Americans in when it comes to how much added sugar should be a part of our daily intake.
The guidelines, released in 2010, suggest we can consume up to 25% of our daily calorie intake in the form of added sugar.
The American Heart Association says the number should only be 5%. Most of the added sugar we consume is on the form of fructose or corn syrup.
St. Francis Cardiologist Dr. David Kovacich says while 5% is very low, 25 is very high with no real justification for the number.
Dr. Kovacich says added sugar turns to carbohydrates in the body which adds weight, thus pushing up blood pressure.
He says the added sugar can also raise tri-glyceride levels adding to cholesterol.
Dr. Kovacich says he doesn't see fructose as a direct cause of heart disease, but the question should be how much added sugar should we consume daily before it contributes to other health problems.
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