Why added sugar is not bad for your health

Why is consuming high quantities of added sugar detrimental to your health?

The World Health Organization recommends no more than 2 tsp, or 10 grams, of added sugar per day. This is because there are many health problems that are caused or exacerbated by the high quantities of added sugar in your diet.

5 reasons why consuming too much sugar is bad for you:

white sugar in a little cup — white sugar – it gives us the not-so-sweet affect after all

Added sugars, like sucrose or high fructose corn syrup, contain no essential nutrients.

Instead it contains a whole bunch of calories, aptly termed “empty” calories because sugar provides no proteins, essential fats, vitamins, or minerals.

Sugar is a leading contributor to obesity for both adults and children.

Across all age groups there is a strong statistical association between eating sugar and becoming overweight or obese. This link is particularly clear among children: those who consume high quantities of sugar sweetened beverages, for example, can be linked to an increase risk of obesity.

Sugar is so easy to over consume.

Sugar, unlike protein or fibre, is not known for its satiating properties. If a food is satiating it makes you feel fuller for longer, therefore leading you to eat less in a 24 hour period. Sugar is incredibly easy to over-consume even though it is heavy in calories. For example, sweetened beverages like soda do not register with your brain like solid food so you won’t eat less to compensate for the extra calories. Over time this will lead to weight gain.

Sugar can contribute to insulin resistance, leading to serious metabolic health problems.

Insulin is an important hormone that allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter cells from the bloodstream and be used for energy. Too much glucose in the blood causes complications of diabetes like kidney damage and blindness. When cells become “resistant” to insulin they stop working as they should and more and more glucose remains in the blood stream. Insulin resistance, as it is called, is believed to be the leading driver of many metabolic diseases. High sugar intake is linked with insulin resistance which eventually wears down the pancreas which produces the insulin and this leads to type 2 diabetes.

Sugar causes tooth decay.

Harmful bacteria in the mouth uses sugar as energy to grow, multiply, and secrete acids that erode the protective enamel of teeth which results in cavities and other dental issues.