The Truth About Sugar and Its Effects on Health

Sugars exist in almost every diet today even though few people understand the effects it has on their health. People have heard all their lives that if you consume any sugar you will become overweight, develop diabetes, and contribute to heart diseases. As with so many things, moderation is key when it comes to sugar, with the quantity and type of sugar being the most important.

One of the biggest myths most people buy into is that not all sugars are as bad for one. Added sugars, white sugar, and sugars in products such as sodas and sweets have no microminerals, vitamins, or dietary fiber, and, therefore, contribute empty calories, which increase weight if taken in large proportions. However, sugars found in fruits are natural and are surrounded by fiber, vitamins, and minerals that assist the body to break down the sugars.

There is a vast myth in circulation today that sugar alone leads to diabetes. High intake of sugars may lead to type 2 diabetes, but this is due to poor dietary practices, inactivity, and family history among other factors. Likewise, high sugar is known to contribute to heart disease; however, a much bigger problem is an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

To be more moderate you can also use natural sugars such as honey or stevia in your food servings while still avoiding taking foods that are rich in added sugar. This is because new sugars are incorporated in places one would not expect such as in baked aggregators. According to the American Heart Association, they must avoid so much added sugar (6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men).

Lastly, the fact is that everything is in moderation. By incorporating more of the whole foods and avoiding the extra sugars this is not a very limiting diet that can be followed to the later.

Thank you for reading!