Effects of Sugar on Health

Everyone knows about the dangers of consuming sugar, but most people are unaware of how much sugar they consume in their diet or how much excess sugar can make them healthy. Originally, sucrose (table sugar) was targeted as a major cause of damage to our body, but it is now known that other forms of sugar, such as fructose (sugar found in fruits) can be harmful when consumed in large quantities. A simple walk through your local grocery store will reveal that sugar is common in almost all food items. It is no coincidence that obesity rates strike in the United States, with the average American consuming about 115 lbs of sugar per year.

Sugar has no nutritional value

Sucrose is the sugar most commonly found in our diet. It is made from sugarcane or beet sugar through a filtration process that eliminates all vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, and other nutrients. Since sucrose does not have all the nutrients, our body must 'borrow' it. vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are lost from our own tissues to be metabolized. Therefore, the effects of sugar on our health absorb important nutrients from other parts of our body.

Sugar releases calcium from our teeth causing tooth decay. It also plays an important role in heart disease because it damages the body of potassium and magnesium, which is essential for heart function.

Although sugar contains no nutrients, it is very high in calories. One teaspoon of sugar (4g) contains 15 calories. This may not seem like much, but assume that a two ounce sugar bar, 12 ounce soda, and one cup of ice cream usually contain 10 or more teaspoons of sugar. The USDA estimates that the average American consumes about 20 tablespoons of sugar a day, which equates to 16 percent of the recommended amount of calories.

Addictive Sugar

Ever had a sugar craving? A term that most people would not associate with something meaningful actually reveals one of the real dangers of sugar. Sugar has an addictive nature that can be compared to nicotine or heroin, just to varying degrees.

The effect of sugar on health is because sugar interacts with your brain causing it to release opioids, which gives the body a sense of relief. Research has shown that certain parts of the brain are activated when you have a sugar craving. These areas of the brain are also activated when a person has a drug emergency. This research gives new meaning to the term 'comfort food'.

Sugar production is also very similar to drug production. People will experience fatigue, tiredness, depression, anxiety, headaches, and sick limbs.

For most of us, exposure to sugar occurs at a very young age. Breast milk from our mothers and our baby formula contains sugar. Also many of the foods we eat daily contain a certain amount of sugar. Cereal is a good example of this.

Sugar is also associated with violent behavior, high blood pressure, and learning disabilities. In 1991, Singapore banned the sale of sugary drinks in schools and youth centers, taking into account sugar addiction to children's mental and physical health. Some studies have also shown that removing sugar from a prisoner diet reduces the amount of chronic violence in prison.

Sugar Moves the Immune System

Eating a cinnamon roll can do more to your body than adding a few extra pounds. Another danger to sugar is compromising your immune system by destroying the ability to kill white blood cells up to five hours after ingestion. It also reduces the production of antibodies in your body.

It also disrupts the transport of Vitamin C and causes mineral imbalance, which weakens the immune system. It also reduces the efficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, making cells more sensitive and less able to stop the invasion by allergens and microorganisms.

When you take more sugar, your blood sugar levels rise. This triggers your pancreas to produce insulin to help cleanse your cells from this excess sugar. When your blood sugar level returns to normal, so does the amount of insulin in your body. However, when you eat a lot of sugar, more insulin is needed to normalize your blood sugar levels. This may cause the pancreas to stop responding to sugar and stop insulin production altogether. This is known as type 1 diabetes.

Insulin also has side effects to suppress the release of human growth hormone in the pituitary gland. Growth hormones are a major regulator of the immune system. The growth hormone deficiency causes the immune system to compromise.

In conclusion

So, do you really cut off all the sugar from your diet? For people who are overweight or have no other risk factor for heart disease or diabetes, such things are not absolutely necessary. The occasional sweet snack will not cause the collapse of the immune system or heart failure. One thing you should note from this article is 'moderation'. One cookie every now and then is fine, but the extra soda you get from your favorite fast food restaurant won't do your body any favors. So how much is considered appropriate? The World Health Organization recommends that you maintain your sugar intake of no more than 10% of your total calories, or 50g of sugar for most people. More than that, the effects of sugar on your health will start to compound and may be under control. Remember, 'simple'!

Effects of Sugar on Health


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