A new study has revealed that consuming either a croissant or some biscuits with one’s breakfast could increase the risk of developing major conditions such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
The study, conducted by Oxford University, found that these two items – along with other sugary treats – in the morning could “silently” increase someone’s likelihood of developing the two conditions.
In turn, heart disease and type 2 diabetes can also increase a person’s risk of heart attacks and strokes. The findings were discovered after a group of volunteers had a diet high in saturated fat for 24 days.
Among the items consumed were cakes, chocolate, sausages, and the aforementioned croissants and biscuits with participants weighed and tested before and after the study.
Following the conclusion of the study and presentation of the results the lead researcher, PhD student Nikola Srnic said that the study showed that “different fats can have drastically different effects on our health in a short timeframe”.
The Times reported that Nikola added: “On the other hand, we saw protective effects if a person ate a diet high in polyunsaturated fat.”
Losing weight and its benefits have been high in the public’s consciousness in recent months, as more and more people use weight loss drugs. These drugs, scientists have found, can not only help people lose weight but could also slow down the ageing process.
Yale University professor Dr Harlan Krumholz said the drugs were “multi-purpose” and could help people “live longer and better”.
Dr Krumholz added: “This is an anti-obesity medication but honestly you could just think about it as a health promotion medication, or in the case of these studies, heart medication.
“It’s a multi-purpose drug. The evidence does excite me. It’s an important inflection point in medicine to have a tool like this that can so promote health.”
On the potential impact of the weight loss drugs, Dr Krumholz ruminated: “Is it a Fountain of Youth? I would say if you’re improving someone’s cardiometabolic health substantially, then you are putting them in a position to live longer and better.
“There are measures of how fast we’re biologically ageing and it wouldn’t surprise me that improving people’s health this way actually slows down the ageing process.”