How Sugar is Killing Us : 20 ways you didn’t know Sugar ruins your Health

Fat is no longer the food villain, it’s Sugar. Number of people getting sugar-related disorders like diabetes, obesity and heart disease is sky rocketing. The scary thing about sugar is that, it’s difficult to weed it out from us,  It’s addictive and toxic…. like a drug.

How many of you know what all qualifies as ‘Sugar’?

Sugar in general refers to sucrose.  Sucrose is obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets. Other sugars include high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), crystalline fructose, and glucose.  The term “sugar-sweetened” refers to those food to which  sucrose or one of the above named sugars is added during manufacture. Please note that sugars that are naturally occurring in foods such as fructose in fruit or lactose in milk are not “added sugars”. Sweeteners are classified mainly into two – nutritive or nonnutritive. Nutritive or caloric sweeteners are naturally occurring ones, made by fruits, sugar cane, and sugar beets and on average they provide 4 calories per gram, whereas Nonnutritive or high-intensity sweeteners obtained from plant sources, such as monk fruit or stevioside, or synthetically made, such as acesulfame K, aspartame, sucralose, or saccharine provide sweetness to food but contribute towards very little or no calories.

Sugar is indeed Deadly…do you know why ?

In Children sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity. This is because sugar reduce levels of orexin in the brain

Sugar is rapidly converted in the blood to fat or triglycerides. This then increases obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. We all know this. But did you know that sugar has much more damaging effects on our body. You will be surprised reading below list.

• Sugar is an “empty food”. Sugar is devoid of vitamins, minerals, or fiber
• Eating larger portions of sugar can make immune system completely helpless. This effect can last for about 4-5 hours. This would mean weakened defense against diseases and infection.
• In Children sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity. This is because sugar reduce levels of orexin in the brain, which reduces levels of physical activity. As a result our kids get fat and sleepy simultaneously
• Sugar can lead to kidney damage, especially when one has diabetes
• Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency
• Sugar can speed up the aging process, causing more wrinkles and gray hair. Sugar reacts with protein, creating advanced glycation end-products(AGEs). These AGEs cause skin to be wrinkled and cell structures to harden
• Sugar can meddle with absorption of calcium and magnesium
• Sugar may lead to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, gall bladder and rectum
• Sugar increases chance for colon cancer in women
• Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin
• Sugar can lead to an acidic stomach
• Sugar raise the risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Sugar increase the risk of varicose veins
• Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis
• Sugar can deteriorate eyesight
• Sugar can reduce growth hormone
• Sugar causes food allergies
• Sugar can impair the DNA structure
• Sugar can raise the amount of fat in the liver
• Sugar may lead to increase in headaches, including migraines
• Sugar can cause Alzheimer Disease

Prevention is always better than getting Chronic Illness

Be knowledgeable about processed foods – Read food labels and don’t be fooled

Sugar is cheap, sugar tastes good and sugar sells in the market, so companies are not going to stop adding this unhealthy ingredient.  Only option left is to limit sugar intake and bring some corrections to your life to live longer and stay well. 

• Limit sugar intake – This is the definitely the first step. Recommended sugar intake is 6
• teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons for men.
• Start controlled eating – Opt for one piece of cake, one donut, one piece of binge food and then stop
• Ditch Sugar laced Juice and drinks – Replace it with pure water or raw fruit
• Be knowledgeable about processed foods – Read food labels and don’t be fooled. Processed foods that claim to be “low fat” are often loaded with sugar and salt to make them taste better
• Eat lots of fiber – Eating an adequate amount of fiber every day can help body to better combat the effects of sugar. Fiber slows down carbohydrate digestion and entry into the bloodstream
• Stay active – Hit the Gym or head for morning or evening walk or get enrolled for your favorite sport

Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. A group of women bloggers have taken up this task to create awareness about this menace. I am happy to be part of this blog series. Special thanks to Ishieta from isheeriashealingcircles.com for introducing me. You would surely like her blog post on ‘The secret life of Fat’.

Also would like to introduce to you another women blogger, Honey from Mummasaurus. Her blog post speaks about “This Anti Obesity Day, STOP being OK with being obese “

Stay Healthy, Stay away from Sugar…as much as possible