Did you know that the average person eats 25 pounds of candy each year, including 2 pounds specifically during Halloween time? There’s a reason why your parents didn’t let you eat the whole bag of candy, and a reason why you still shouldn’t eat an excess amount of sugar. When starting your health journey, you may have been warned about the negative effects of sugar on your body. It’s good to be cautious about too much added sugar in your meals, but do you know why? Here’s what sugar does to your body and mind.
Why Are Artificial Sugars Bad?
A distinction needs to be made between healthy natural sugars and artificial sugars. Fruits naturally have sugar in them, but they are not bad for you. Yes, if you only eat fruit every day and nothing else, that’s too much sugar. However, a healthy amount of fruit servings every day can only help you, so go ahead and eat that extra strawberry.
The problem lies in artificial sugars. This may be a crushing truth if you love diet drinks. Now is the time for you to throw those away. They are wracking havoc on your body and mind. These sugars claim to be the healthy alternative to sugar. This is the “zero calorie” soda you drink or the Splenda you put in your morning coffee. In scientific studies[2] dating all the way back to the 1970s until now, it was found that these artificial sugars could cause cancer. In these research studies, mice developed problems, such as stomach cancer, when given artificial sugars. Cutting out sugars now mean living a longer and healthier life.
Types of Sugar to Avoid
The danger in sugar consumption comes when you eat too many added sugars
As we said, natural sugar servings in fruit are great for you in healthy quantities! When you eat too many processed foods with added sugars, you are maximizing your sugar intake without even realizing it. Nothing is worse than adding calories and sugar to your diet without meaning to!
Look out for foods with high amounts of high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, dextrose, or maltose. It may sound silly, but a good key is to avoid food with ingredients that end with “-ose”. When you avoid foods with these added sugars, you naturally keep your sugar intake at bay.
Stick to natural sugars like honey, molasses, maple syrup, etc. Avoid any manmade sugars and be aware of them in your processed foods. You’re most likely eating added sugars regularly without even being aware of the fact.
What Happens to Your Body When Eating Sugar?
Sugar, artificial or otherwise, has a large effect on your body. It has both positive effects in regulated quantities and negative effects when consumed in excess amounts. Here are some body parts that are affected by sugar intake[3]
- Liver- The liver creates fat from the sugars as it is digested. Too much sugar consumption can lead to liver disease. We’re taught that alcohol will you’re your liver, so we don’t drink so much. However, sugar will also harm your liver in the long run, so why do we continue to eat it?
- Teeth- Sugar can eat away at your tooth’s enamel; leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities. This is why your dentist warns about eating too much sugar.
- Pancreas- Too much sugar consumption can lead to type 2 diabetes. This is because of the pancreas’ role in the digestion of sugar. As your blood sugar rises, insulin is produced by your body. This allows your organs to start converting glucose sugars into glycogen for healthy energy storage. However, if you have too much sugar your body will eventually stop producing this insulin to protect you.
- Skin- Sugar can actually cause wrinkles! The collagen and elastin in your skin that keeps you looking fresh and young are lost or converted when you eat too much sugar. This leads to pre-mature aging and wrinkles.
- Heart- One of the biggest and most vital organs effected by sugar is the heart. Have too much sugar and you could end up having heart disease.
Sugar’s Effect on the Mind
Beyond the body, sugar also effects the mind. You may have heard of the term “sugar rush” or how sugar is one of the most addicting substances you can eat; both of these things are true.
Your brain releases dopamine and natural opioids when you have sugar. These are natural chemicals that give you a happy feeling. In experiments on rats, the animals function similarly on sugar as they would on drugs. Sugar is addictive because of these pleasure chemicals that reward you with every bite. Control your food, don’t let it control you!
Enjoy your Meal!
Sugars are one of the most harmful substances that we continue to consume with no problem. Look at the ingredients in your next meal and follow my blog for more helpful tips on living a healthier life.
[2] Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes – Mayo Clinic
2 20 Things You Didn’t Know About… Sugar | Discover Magazine
3 What happens in my body when I eat sugar? – BBC Science Focus Magazine
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