We’ve all been told that consuming too many calories, poor diet, smoking, cholesterol, hypertension, obesity and alcohol are all risk factors for heart attacks. But according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, sugar is the real culprit behind heart attacks and not saturated fats.

A study of more 40,000 people revealed that in some cases, high sugar intake had a 400 percent increase in risk of heart attacks.  The study also showed that the risk of heart attacks doubles if sugar makes up 20 per cent of your calories. Researchers explain that sugar calories are worse than other calories.

According to researchers, this new study shows how sugar causes insulin resistance and triggers inflammation, which doctors now know is one of the roots to heart disease.

You can read more about this study here.