Eating Dessert After Meals May Protect Heart Health, Study Finds

If you're like most of us who love a good dessert, researchers from Lund University in Sweden have discovered that consuming sweet desserts in moderation after meals can actually support better health. A large-scale study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, tracked the sugar consumption habits of approximately 70,000 participants over more than two decades, yielding surprising results.

According to the study, drinking sugary beverages was linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Regular consumption of more than eight glasses per week raised the risk of ischemic stroke by 19%, heart failure by 18%, and abdominal aortic aneurysm by 31%.

In contrast, the researchers found that eating sweet desserts like cakes or ice cream after meals, when consumed in moderation, could actually reduce the risk of heart disease. Participants who consumed between 5% and 7.5% of their daily calories from added sugar — primarily through desserts, showed a lower risk compared to those who either avoided sugar completely or consumed excessive amounts.

“Our findings indicate that the impact of sugar depends not only on the quantity but also on the context in which it is consumed,” says Dr. Susan Yenzy, the study’s lead researcher. According to her, moderate dessert consumption can be part of a healthy diet.

The researchers emphasize to minimize your intake of sugary drinks as much as possible and to maintain a moderate daily sugar intake (5%-7.5% of total calories). The study also emphasizes that a balanced approach to sugar, rather than complete avoidance, is key to supporting heart health.