Why is sugar so bad for our body?

In order to understand what is so bad about sugar, we need to understand what it is made of.

Before sugar enters the bloodstream from the digestive tract, it is broken down into two simple sugars; glucose and fructose.

Glucose is found in every living cell on the planet. If we don’t get it from our diet, our bodies will produce it.

Fructose is different. Our bodies cannot produce fructose in any significant amount and there is evidence that physiologically, we are not in need for it.

The thing with fructose is that it can be metabolized by the liver only in large amounts.

This is not a problem if we consume just a little bit of sugar (like sugar derived from fruits) and we have just finished an exercise session. In this case, the fructose will be turned into glycogen and stored in the liver until we need it.

However, if the liver is full of glycogen (this is much more common), eating a lot of fructose overloads the liver, forcing it to turn this fructose into fat.

When repeatedly eating large amounts of sugar, this process can lead to fatty liver and all sorts of serious problems.

Reason #1 - Added Sugar does not Contain Essential Nutrients and it is not good for our Teeth.

People might have mentioned it a thousand times to you… but it’s worth repeating. Added sugars (like sucrose and high fructose corn syrup) contain a load of calories with absolutely NO essential nutrients in them.

This is why they are known as “empty” calories. There are no essential fats, vitamins, proteins, or minerals in sugar. It is just pure energy and nothing else.

When people consume up to ten percent to twenty percent of calories as sugar (or more), it can become a major problem and contribute several nutrient deficiencies. Sugar is also not good for our teeth, because it consists of easily digestible energy for bad bacteria that exists in the mouth.

Reason #2 -  The Resistance to Insulin Can Progress to Type II Diabetes

When our cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, the beta cells in our pancreas make more of those very cells. This is crucial, because chronically elevated blood sugars can cause severe harm.

Eventually, as insulin resistance becomes progressively worse, the pancreas cannot keep up with the demand of producing enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels down. At this point, blood sugar levels reach extremely high levels and a diagnosis of type II diabetes is made. Since we are aware that sugar can cause insulin resistance, it is no surprise that people who drink beverages sweetened by sugar have up to an eighty-three percent higher risk of Type II diabetes.

Reason #3 - Are some types of sugar better than others?

Celebrities and famous chefs have agreed to the fact that there are several benefits to be acquired by consuming and using natural and healthier kind of sugars such as maple syrup and honey as opposed to the usual refined white sugar, that is available in markets.

But according to doctors, these are all common misconceptions regarding sugar. Whether it is natural or not, doctors agree that all kinds of sugar is still sugar and is therefore bad for our body.

But the upside to these healthy alternatives to white sugar is the fact that a very little quantity of it will suffice as a sweetener as opposed to the large amounts that one would usually require to make something out of white sugar. Some of these natural sweeteners are molasses, honey, and maple syrup.

Reason #4 - Sugar accelerates aging.

If you’ve been having healthy doses of sugar all your life, it is time to get a reality check because studies have shown that “Sugar contributes to tell-tale signs of aging, one of which is sagging skin. “

Reason #5 - Sugar interferes with immune functioning.

Although there has not been much research that has been done on human beings, animal studies show that sugar suppresses immune responses. When yeast and bacteria that exists in sugar runs out of balance it could cause illnesses and infections.

Reason #6 - Sugar increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Studies have shown that the more high-glycemic foods (those that quickly affect blood sugar) people consume, including foods that contain sugar, the higher is his risk of becoming diabetic, developing heart disease and becoming obese.  Research also suggests that high-glycemic foods could also cause cancer.  

     

Reason #7 - Sugar causes blood glucose to hike up and go down.

Unstable blood sugar often leads to fatigue, headaches, mood swings, and more cravings for sugar. It is due to these cravings which becomes a cycle of addiction that makes people feel better with every new hit of sugar. This feeling though, that one gets when they consume high amounts of sugar is a very temporary phenomenon that vanishes a few hours later, only to result in cravings and hunger later. People who avoid sugar have said that they have absolutely no craving for sugar feel that they are emotionally balanced and energized.