Most people enjoy sweet foods and beverages. But after that brief sweetness rush, you might start to worry about how sugar impacts your weight and general health. Is sugar actually harmful to us?
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People sometimes describe calories from sugar as “empty calories” because they do not provide any nutrients. Eating too much sugar can increase a person’s risk of many health problems, including weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and tooth decay.
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Glucose is a form of sugar that our bodies require to survive. According to Dr. Kristina Rother, an NIH paediatrician and expert in sweeteners, glucose is the most important source of fuel for the body and the brain.
However, there is no need to include additional glucose in your diet because your body can produce its own glucose by dissolving dietary components including carbs, proteins, and lipids.
Some sugars are found naturally in foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and milk. “These are healthful additions to your diet,” says Dr. Andrew Bremer, a paediatrician and NIH expert on sweeteners. “When you eat an orange, for instance, you’re getting a lot of nutrients and dietary fibre along with the natural sugars.”
The adult diet contains about 15% calories from added sugars. That translates to almost 22 teaspoons of added sugar each day.
Typically, sugars are heavy in calories and lack the nutritional advantages of fruits and other naturally sweet meals.
Because of these harmful effects, many health organizations recommend that we cut back on added sugars.
See the video below for more!
