Yes, indirectly. The amount of sugar you consume can increase your risk of heart disease through its contribution to obesity, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and inflammation, all known risk factors. A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) spells out the extent of the threat: the average intake of added sugars for all Americans is 22.2 teaspoons per day. That adds up to 355 calories - far too many, especially given the fact that sugar provides "empty" calories without any needed nutrients. These calories are often considered "discretionary," meaning that you should eat them in moderation and only after you've consumed your daily quota of fruits, vegetables, fiber and lean protein. According to the AHA, women should limit themselves to no more than 100 calories per day from added sugars (that's about six teaspoons) and men no more than 150 calories (about nine teaspoons). "Added sugars" means all the sugars and syrups added to foods during processing as well as the sugars and syrups you spoon on at the table. The biggest sources, by far are soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages (a single 12-ounce regular soda contains about 130 calories or eight teaspoons of sugar). The new AHA recommendations and its statement on reducing sugar intake were published in the Sept. 15, 2009 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and online on August 24, 2009.