Why is Too Much Sugar Bad for You?
It’s common knowledge that consuming too many sugary products can be bad for you. Whether it’s mom and dad, your health teacher, or your dentist down the block, we’ve been hearing that sugar has been bad for our health for decades.
The debate that many are people are having, however, it what are the effects of consuming too much sugar on the body? In addition, what are the effects of natural sugar versus added sugar in food products? This shift in the health debate is a response to new legislation that required nutrition labels to list a breakdown of both the total sugars and added sugars found in packaged foods.
What is Sugar?
Before we discuss how sugar can alter your brain chemistry and have potential negative effects on your body, let’s define what sugar is because it’s always so simple.
Sugar can be found in nearly all food products these days in the form of corn syrup, one of America’s most manufactured product. Sugar can also be found in Agave syrup (which is highly processed—definitely avoid), sugar alcohols, more commonly known as sweeteners, ethanol, honey, and simple sugar.
Generally speaking, sugar is a mixture of glucose and fructose. The former is also called blood sugar and is regarded by nutritionists and health professionals as the body’s preferred energy source. The body naturally processes carbs into glucose to use as fuel for everything you do each day, and can even store it in your muscles for later use.
Fructose, on the other hand, is different. While found in many fruits and vegetables, it uses a different metabolic pathway than glucose and thus has different effects on the body and brain when consumed. Fructose produces more fat than glucose and does not cause insulin to be released.
The Effects of Sugar on the Body
Hopefully, I don’t need to tell you that overconsumption of sugar can cause tooth decay and rot your teeth. Eating too much sugar is also the primary cause of weight gain in Americans today. A high sugar intake has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease, increased blood pressure, stroke, and more.
The underlying problem many people have with sugar—although they likely don’t realize it—is that there is no right amount of sugar to consume. The Institute of Medicine, which sets Recommended Dietary Allowances, reports that sugar is not a required nutrient in your diet.
The negative element of consuming sugar is that it can displace more nutritious, healthy food in your diet, or simply adds more calories to your diet, which puts you at risk for weight gain. Some studies even point to sugar as a possible cause of cancer.
There’s nothing wrong with having the occasional treat, as most people tend to agree that sugar is okay in moderation. In the grand scheme of things, drinking a soda or eating some ice cream won’t set you on a dark path. It’s the repeated indulgences that can cause long-term negative influences on your body. Sweet cravings can be tempered by eating naturally sweet fruit and dairy.
