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Eating pastries, cakes, or chocolate bars every so often might be better for your heart than following a “zero-sugar” diet, according to researchers from Lund University in Sweden. However, this doesn’t apply to other sources of sugar, like fizzy drinks (which often have added sugar to enhance their sweetness) or sweet toppings.

“The most surprising finding from our study is how different sources of added sugar relate to heart disease risks,” says lead researcher Suzanne Janzi. “This highlights that it’s not just the amount of sugar that matters, but also where it comes from and the context.”

The researchers studied records of 69,705 people in Swedish public health databases. These participants, aged between 45 and 83, answered questions about their diet and lifestyle in 1997 and 2009 and were then tracked until 2019.

They categorized sugar intake into three groups: sugary toppings (like honey), sweet treats (like pastries and sweets), and sweetened beverages (like fizzy drinks). They then compared these types of added sugar with seven types of cardiovascular (心血管的) diseases, including strokes and heart attacks, while accounting for other risk factors like smoking.

The connections between sugar types and heart diseases varied; for example, sugary toppings were linked to a higher risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms (腹主动脉瘤). Overall, the lowest risks for all cardiovascular diseases were found in those who occasionally indulged in sweet treats.

When considering how we get our sugar, many factors matter: what else we eat or drink with the sugar, and how often we include added sugar in our diet. “Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, usually make you feel less full than solid forms, which can lead to overeating,” says Janzi. “Context is important too — treats are often enjoyed socially or on special occasions, while sweetened beverages might be consumed more regularly.”

Keep in mind that these findings suggest relationships rather than proving cause and effect. “Our observational study can’t establish causation, but it suggests that extremely low sugar intake may not be necessary or beneficial for heart health,” says Janzi. The researchers recommend future studies to explore more details about the links between sugar, heart disease, and obesity.

1.1.What is the main finding of the study conducted by Lund University researchers?

A Eating chocolate bars is healthier than a zero-sugar diet.

B The amount of sugar consumed affects heart health.

C Different added sugars affect heart disease risk differently.

D Sweet toppings are the main causes of heart diseases.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“The most surprising finding from our study is how different sources of added sugar relate to heart disease risks”可知，该研究的主要发现是，不同来源的添加糖与心脏病风险之间的关系不同。故选C。

2.2.What can we know about the participants?

A They were all patients with heart diseases.

B They were tracked for a period of over a decade.

C They were asked to follow a “zero-sugar” diet.

D They were between the ages of 20 and 40.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第三段中的“answered questions about their diet and lifestyle in 1997 and 2009 and were then tracked until 2019.”在1997年和2009年回答了有关他们饮食和生活方式的问题，然后一直追踪他们到2019年。即追踪时间超过10年。故选B。

3.3.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A Sweetened beverages may contain a significant amount of sugar.

B Liquid sugars found in sweetened beverages make you feel fuller.

C Sugary toppings are linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

D Smoking is the only other risk factor considered in the study.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据第一段中的“fizzy drinks (which often have added sugar to enhance their sweetness)”，第四段中的“sweetened beverages (like fizzy drinks)”和第六段中的“Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, usually make you feel less full than solid forms”可知，碳酸饮料属于含糖饮料，而含糖饮料中的液体糖通常比固体糖更让你感觉没饱，由此可推知，含糖饮料里面含的糖分应该很高。故选A。

4.4.What may the lead researcher Suzanne Janzi suggest about occasional sugar intake?

A It is unnecessary for maintaining heart health.

B It has a proven causal relationship with heart health.

C It is the best way to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

D It may be beneficial or necessary for heart health.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“it suggests that extremely low sugar intake may not be necessary or beneficial for heart health”研究表明，极低（几乎没有）的糖摄入量可能对心脏健康没有必要或益处。由此可推知，Suzanne Janzi会建议偶尔少量摄入糖分对心脏健康更有益。故选D。