Sugar consumption can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, tooth decay, digestive problems, and weakened immune response. Pregnant women who consume too much sugar are at risk of developing preeclampsia. To avoid excess sugar, limit sweets, avoid simple carbohydrates, packaged foods, and regular sodas. Reading food labels can help identify sugar content.
The health problems associated with sugar consumption are numerous. Since refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup are two simple forms that are the most common additives in foods, it helps to know how many health conditions you risk by eating too much.
Of course, one of the big health problems associated with sugar consumption is obesity. Refined sugar and those contained in simple carbohydrates such as white flour bread account for most of the weight gain people experience after reaching maturity. Especially since the level of physical activity has decreased among many in the western world and the level of sugar consumption has increased, it is definitely a weapon that will result in excess weight.
Eating sugar has also been shown to raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Weight gain is indicated in hardening of the arteries which directly contributes to heart disease. Also, sugar definitely plays a role in the development of some types of diabetes.
Sugar, especially that found in fruit juice, is also known to cause tooth decay. Consumption can also increase the likelihood of suffering from gum disease. Therefore, vigorous tooth brushing should always follow sugar consumption.
However, sugar also plays a role in how we behave. It has been suggested that excess can cause depression. It can also cause hyperactivity or mood swings when you go from sugar highs to lows.
Recent studies also suggest that too much sugar can lower the body’s natural immune response. People who consume a lot of this substance are more likely to get bacterial infections than people who avoid it. Sugar is also indicated in digestive problems, because too much can cause increased amounts of acid in the stomach. This can lead to diarrhea, particularly in those with irritable bowel syndrome.
Pregnant women who eat too much sugar increase their risks of developing preeclampsia. In fact, pregnant women have their urine levels monitored for high sugar levels as part of their prenatal routine. Many pregnant women benefit from avoiding sweets as much as possible.
Some other health conditions where sugar can play a role include:
Diseases of the liver and pancreas
Premature ageing
Eczema
Kidney disease
osteoporosis
Poor absorption of minerals
With so many health risks associated with sugar, it’s helpful to have a guide on how to avoid excess. Some things can help. Eat sweets only occasionally. Avoid simple carbohydrates like white rice and white flour. Don’t eat packaged foods, especially grains. Read labels on foods to see which ones contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Especially avoid regular sodas, because it’s like drinking liquid sugar.
While we can’t always skip convenience foods, cutting packaged food use in half and avoiding sodas would significantly reduce sugar intake for many people. Given the health risks, it would make sense to try to minimize your intake.
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