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An interesting scientific study was published today and picked up by the New York Times. The study titled “Consumption of added sugars and indicators of cardiovascular risk among US adolescents,” it gives a frightening picture into the future of our kids. Over two thousand kids reported one day of food intake and had a single blood measurement of cholesterol. From the food intake report, the scientists estimated the intake of “added sugars”- refined sweeteners added to processed food and beverages. Think sodas, breakfast bars, fruit roll ups, cookies, etc. The average teenager in this study ate/drank the equivalent of over 1/2 a cup of sugar at day! Importantly, the more added sugars in their diet the higher their “bad” LDL cholesterol and lower their “good” HDL cholesterol.

These findings did not depend on the teenagers’ body weight, socioeconomic class, or physical activity level. In fact, there was no increase in body weight with increased sugars just increased cholesterol! My take home from this study is that what our kids eat today will definitely effect their risk of heart disease tomorrow, even if they are thin, active kids. Time to make Miss Sherri’s bars instead of store bought!

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