Story highlights Sugar is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and many other chronic diseases

Added sugars are the culprit, not fruits and natural fruit juices

This story was originally published on CNN.com in 2014.

(CNN) In recent years, sugar -- moreso than fat -- has been receiving the bulk of the blame for our deteriorating health.

Most of us know we consume more sugar than we should. Let's be honest, it's hard not to.

The (new) bad news is that sugar does more damage to our bodies than we originally thought. It was once considered to be just another marker for an unhealthy diet and obesity. Now, sugar is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as well as many other chronic diseases, according a study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

"Sugar has adverse health effects above any purported role as 'empty calories' promoting obesity," writes Laura Schmidt, a professor of health policy in the School of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, in an accompanying editorial. "Too much sugar doesn't just make us fat; it can also make us sick."

But how much is too much? Turns out, not nearly as much as you may think. As a few doctors and scientists have been screaming for a while now, a little bit of sugar goes a long way.

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