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Share on Pinterest Eating a diet high in sugar is linked with several increased risks, including depression, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Oscar Wong/Getty ImagesIn a recent study, having a sweet tooth was linked with a greater risk of depression compared to those who favor healthier foods.Preferring sweets was also associated with greater metabolic disease risk.People who strongly prefer sweets had higher inflammation, blood sugar, and lipids.Small, sustainable changes will make it easier to reduce your sugar intake.You may even find that you feel better in just a few weeks, giving you an incentive to continue.

Do you have a sweet tooth? According to Statista, many people in the U.S. do. In fact, when they surveyed Americans in 2022 and 2023, 41% said they ate sweets regularly.

However, if you consume a lot of sugary foods, research indicates that you may want to reconsider your choices.

In the October 2024 study, which was published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, the researchers found that people who favored sweets had a higher risk of depression than those who preferred healthier foods.

These individuals also had higher levels of inflammation, blood sugar, and lipids, which can indicate a risk of metabolic disease.

On the other hand, those people who had a more health-conscious eating pattern had reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, per the authors. How having a sweet tooth affects metabolic disease risk

The researchers examined data from blood samples taken from the UK Biobank, a large database containing health and genetic information for half a million volunteers in the U.K.

The data contained information about 2,923 proteins and 168 metabolites that had been measured to look for changes.

The research team used unsupervised machine learning to look for patterns in this data, finding three distinct groups based on peoples food preferences: Health-conscious (preferring vegetables and fresh fruit to animal-based foods and sweets), Omnivore (preferring all foods), and Sweet-tooth (having a high preference for sweet foods and beverages).

Looking at the various proteins and metabolites, they found those in the sweet tooth group had higher C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation.

They also had higher blood sugar and worse lipids, elevating their risk of metabolic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

The team further found that having a preference for sweets was linked with a greater likelihood of having depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease compared with the other two groups.

On the other hand, the Health-conscious group had a reduced risk of heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and stroke; and the Omnivore group had only moderate health risks.

While they did not directly observe what people ate, the researchers noted that food preferences alone could potentially be used to predict peoples risk for metabolic diseases.

However, more research is required to confirm their findings. Why having a sweet tooth might increase health risks

Dr. Michael O. McKinney, a physician and nutritionist with Healthy Outlook, said that the risks to physical and mental health increase when we eat a lot of sugar because of how sugar affects the bodys functioning.

He said that when you consume sugar, your blood sugar rises, which in turn increases the amount of insulin produced to cope with the added sugar.

The consumption of food items containing excessively high glucose levels in the long course can result in insulin resistance, said McKinney, which is a root cause of metabolic illnesses such as Type II diabetes.

Ingesting excess sugar and carbohydrates can also lead to high levels of inflammation, he said, which is linked with heart disease, stroke, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Inflammation can damage the brain and impair the bodys capacity to govern emotions, increasing mental illness susceptibilities, explained McKinney. How you can reduce your sugar consumption

Dr. Ramit Singh Sambyal, an MD/General Physician associated with ClinicSpots, said that reducing your sugar consumption doesnt have to be overwhelming.

Small, gradual changes can make a huge difference, he said.

The first step is becoming aware of all the places that sugar can hide.

Many everyday foods, even ones marketed as healthy, contain hidden sugars, said Sambyal.

He suggests taking a closer look at labels, especially those of products like sauces, salad dressings, and flavored yogurts.

Sambyal also advised learning to look for sugars different names, such as glucose or maltose.

Another step in reducing your sugar consumption is to reach for whole fruits like apples and berries rather than grabbing a candy bar or other sugary snack.

They provide natural sweetness while also offering fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar, he said.

However, you dont need to make any drastic changes right away.

Start by making small adjustments like using less sugar in your coffee or choosing whole grains over sugary cereals, suggested Sambyal. This makes the change more manageable and sustainable in the long term.

Finally, he advises looking at any sugary drinks that you regularly indulge in. Sodas, fruit juices, and energy drinks are some of the biggest sources of added sugar in our diets, said Sambyal. Switching to water, sparkling water, or herbal tea can make a big difference.

While cutting out sugar can result in some temporary sugar detox symptoms, you may find that you feel better within just a few short weeks.

In fact, Sambyal mentioned that those with depression may experience changes in their well-being relatively quickly.

Patients who reduce their sugar intake often notice improvements in their energy levels and mood, said Sambyal. They feel less sluggish and experience fewer mood swings.

And, of course, in the long term, you reduce your risk of not only depression but also conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Reducing sugar is one of the best steps you can take for your health, said Sambyal. Even small changes can significantly improve your physical and mental well-being over time. Takeaway

According to a new study, having a sweet tooth may be linked with a greater risk for depression.

These people also had higher inflammation, blood sugar, and lipids, which may indicate a greater risk for metabolic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

To eat less sugar, you can start slowly by reading labels and making better choices, like having whole fruits when you crave sweetness and putting less sugar in your coffee.

Small changes will add up over time to a happier, healthier you.

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Politics

Wes Streeting denies Labour has made ‘mistakes’ with ‘unpopular’ policies despite poor local election results

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Wes Streeting denies Labour has made 'mistakes' with 'unpopular' policies despite poor local election results

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has defended “unpopular” policies such as the cut to the winter fuel allowance despite Labour’s poor performance at the local elections.

Mr Streeting denied the government had made any mistakes when asked whether the policy was partly to blame for the party losing 189 council seats less than a year since the General Election.

Since coming into government last July, Labour has enacted a number of policies that were not in its manifesto.

These include means-testing winter fuel payments for pensioners, increasing employers’ national insurance contributions and slashing £5bn from the welfare bill.

Asked what mistakes his government had made so far that had led to its drubbing at the ballot box, Mr Streeting told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “Well, we will make plenty of mistakes.”

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Pressed again on whether he believed “mistakes” had been made, the health secretary replied: “No. When we made those choices, we knew they would be unpopular. And we knew that they would be opposed.

“The reason we made those choices is because we genuinely believe they’re the right choices to get the country out of the massive hole it was left in. And right across the board. Whether it’s the NHS, whether it’s schools, whether it’s prisons, whether it’s our defence and security, whether it’s crime and policing, there were enormous challenges facing this country when we came in.

“And we’ve had to make big and sometimes unpopular decisions so that we can face those challenges and deal with them. People might thank us if we just kind of go for the easy but we want to make the right choices.”

Some Labour MPs have urged the government to change direction, with one telling Sky News the cut to winter fuel was a “catastrophic error” that must be “remedied” if the party is to see any improvement in public opinion.

Others have warned that in courting Reform voters, the party risks fracturing its coalition of voters on the left who may be tempted by the Liberal Democrats and Green Party.

However, in the aftermath of the local elections, Sir Keir Starmer suggested the poor results meant he needed to go “further and faster” in delivering his existing agenda.

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Inside Reform’s election success

The real victor to emerge from Thursday’s local elections was Reform UK, which won control of 10 councils and picked up 677 council seats largely at the expense of the Conservatives in the south.

However, Reform also won the Runcorn by-election from Labour by just six votes, as well as control of Doncaster Council from Labour – the only local authority it had control of in this set of elections – in a significant win for Nigel Farage and his party.

The Reform UK leader declared that two-party politics was now “finished” and that his party was now the official “opposition” to Labour.

Asked whether the results meant that Labour would now treat Reform as “your most serious opposition”, Mr Streeting said: ” I certainly do treat them as a serious opposition force.”

“As I say, I don’t know whether it will be Reform or the Conservatives that emerge as the main threat,” he added.

“I don’t have a horse in that race, but like alien versus predator, I don’t really want either one to win.”

Read more:
Reform’s mission to ‘remoralise’ young people
Reform has put the two traditional parties on notice

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Reform UK are ‘fighting force’

Tory Party chairman Nigel Huddleston said Reform UK was not just a protest party and that Mr Farage was “a force in British politics”.

He told Trevor Phillips: “But the one thing about Nigel Farage is, and we’re seeing this again and again and again, he is a populist.

“He is increasingly saying everything that anybody wants to hear. He’s trying to be all things to all men.”

“We are establishing ourselves as a credible alternative government based on sound conservative principles and values and our values and our principles, and therefore our policies, will define the future of our party,” he added.

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Environment

It’s back: Hyundai IONIQ 5 qualifies for $7,500 tax credit – again!

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It's back: Hyundai IONIQ 5 qualifies for ,500 tax credit – again!

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 got a raft of upgrades and sporty, rally-focused XRT trim level for 2025 – but the biggest upgrade for the Made in America Hyundai might be this: the 5 has regained eligibility for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit!

Despite being assembled at Hyundai’s Georgia meta plant for the last four month, the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was nowhere to be found on the EPA’s list of rebate-eligible vehicles. But that was then – with a fresh updated to the list coming online May 1st, Hyundai’s new-age electric hot hatch is back in the rebate game.

It’s worth noting that lease customers had been able to access the incentive under some circumstances, but this latest update to the EPA list makes it possible for cash and payment buyers to take advantage of the full Federal incentive, too – as long as they earn less than $300,000 as a married couple filing jointly, less than $225,000 as a head of household, or less than $150,000 as an individual.

With the $7,500 federal tax credit in the equation, you can get a new 2025 IONIQ 5 for somewhere in between $36,575 and $49,475, well under the $80,000 Federal MSRP cap.

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Victory lap

As if to celebrate, Hyundai announced that it was taking on the celebrate One Lap of America road rayy and race event in a factory collaboration with the track-focused enthusiasts at Grassroots Motorsports this week with One Lap veterans Andy Hollis and Tom Suddard campaigning a stock, 601 hp 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N in the Alternative Fuels class.

“After winning our class in a gutted, caged race car last year, we wanted to compete in the best-of-all worlds this year: A vehicle that’s incredibly fast, incredibly comfortable on a road trip, and incredibly capable on a racetrack,” explains Suddard. “Electrification means it’s finally possible to have huge power without huge compromises in a street car, and the IONIQ 5 N promises to pair that huge power with the durability and capability to survive a week of racing.”

One Lap is widely regarded as one of the toughest street-legal motorsports events in the world, pitting amateur and professional drivers alike compete in stock and heavily modified vehicles of every description, battling it out in a series of scored challenges, including timed events at road courses, drag strips, skid pads, and autocross courses.

In between tracks, competitors safely travel thousands of miles around the country, proving the mettle and durability of the vehicles and the teams that drive them. This year, 86 teams from all over the country will compete in 17 scored events over the course of eight days at tracks like Virginia International Raceway and NCM Motorsports Park.

The Tire Rack One Lap of America is currently underway – you can track the Hyundai’s progress here, then let us know what you think of this new tax development in the comments.

SOURCES | IMAGES: Hyundai, One Lap of America; FuelEconomy.gov.


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It is ‘feasible’ Nigel Farage could be the next prime minister, says Kemi Badenoch

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It is 'feasible' Nigel Farage could be the next prime minister, says Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch has admitted it is “feasible” that Nigel Farage could become the next prime minister.

The Tory leader told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme Mr Farage’s party was “expressing the feeling of frustration that a lot of people around the country are feeling” – but added it was her job to “come up with answers and solutions”.

Asked if it was feasible that Mr Farage could be the next prime minister, she cited how Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had won re-election this weekend.

“As I said, anything is feasible,” she said. “Anthony Albanese: people were writing him off. He has just won a landslide, but my job is to make sure that he [Farage] does not become prime minister because he does not have the answers to the problems the country is facing.”

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Could Nigel Farage be prime minister?

Asked what Mr Farage was doing right, Ms Badenoch said: “He is expressing the feeling of frustration that a lot of people around the country are feeling.

“But he also doesn’t have a record in government like the two main parties do. Now he’s going to be running some councils. We’ll see how that goes.”

Mr Farage was the undoubted winner of Thursday’s local elections, in which 23 councils were up for grabs.

His party picked up 677 council seats and took control of 10 councils.

By contrast, the Conservatives lost 677 council seats as well as control of 18 councils in what was their worst local elections performance on record.

Mr Farage said the outcome spelt the end of two-party politics and that his party was now the official “opposition” to Labour – with the Tories having been rendered a “waste of space”.

Read more:
Reform has put the two traditional parties on notice

‘I get it’: Starmer responds after losing Runcorn by-election

Ms Badenoch said she believed the vote for Mr Farage on Thursday was partly down to “protest” but added: “That doesn’t mean we sit back. We are going to come out fighting.

“We are going to come out with the policies that people want to see, but what we are not going to do is rush out and tell the public things that are not true just so we can win votes.

“This is not about winning elections; this is about fixing our country. Yes, of course, you need to win elections to do that, but you also need a credible plan.”

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‘Farage is a force in British politics’

Conservative co-chairman Nigel Huddleston sought to play down the threat from Reform UK, telling Sky News: “When they’re in a position of delivering things, that’s when the shine comes off.”

He told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “The one thing about Nigel Farage is, and we’re seeing this again and again and again, he is a populist.

“He is increasingly saying everything that anybody wants to hear. He’s trying to be all things to all men.”

“We are establishing ourselves as a credible alternative government based on sound conservative principles and values and our values and our principles, and therefore our policies, will define the future of our party,” he added.

Asked whether the results meant that Labour would now treat Reform as “your most serious opposition”, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Trevor Phillips: ” I certainly do treat them as a serious opposition force.”

“As I say, I don’t know whether it will be Reform or the Conservatives that emerge as the main threat,” he added.

“I don’t have a horse in that race, but like alien versus predator, I don’t really want either one to win.”

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