Sugar Effects
Sugar has been added to foods to bribe children to eat, to give as presents, and to finish a meal as a dessert. Sugar became sought after during wars when it was rationed. Sugar is added to baby foods to make them more “tasty.” Sugar effects on people are not healthy when eating more than needed for glucose levels (the level of sugar in blood). Low blood sugar can be an issue – so, like all things, eat sugars in moderation but make it a small amount (no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day – that still sounds like a lot).
If unsweetened foods were given to babies and children from the beginning, it would not have set up such a “need” for sweets. Feed a baby sugar consistently and it can set up a sort of addiction. Added sugar to sweeten foods sets up bad habits.
Added sugar should be a very small part of the diet – it can cause so many problems. Sugar effects cause weight gain and diabetes, aging and wrinkling, sleep issues, cavities and teeth issues, and more. If you need sugar for some reason then do as your doctor tells you, especially with low blood sugar.
Eating added sugar increases your wrinkles – you look older as wrinkles form on your face and body. It harms elastin and collagen.
Sugar consumption can affect you getting a good night’s sleep. Sugar effects can linger on to disrupt sleep.
Added sugar feeds cancer. Cancer needs a fuel to survive. Sugar is a perfect food. Starve the cancer cells – don’t feed them.
Added sugar which is eaten in excess causes obesity and then can result in diabetes. Sugar has a lot of calories.
Some people get headaches after eating sugars.
Sugar can cause cavities especially coupled with acids. It is hard to brush out of little crevices in the teeth, sitting there to eat into the teeth, especially with sticky foods like caramel or hard candy (like lemon drops) that stay on your teeth. Make sure to floss daily to reach all tooth surfaces and get below the gum line.
Sugar is formed from carbohydrates after processed in the digestive system. Thus, carbohydrates become sugar.
Sugar comes in many forms: honey, maple syrup, agave and more (though honey and maple syrup have some health benefits). You need to be careful with all sugary sweeteners – the glycemic index is higher in certain sweeteners than others. Stevia is a sweetener which does not cause the issues sugar does – it just gives a sweet flavor, but make sure it is ok for you (not everyone tolerates stevia), and don’t use it exclusively to sweeten. Look for any additives in sweeteners and avoid those.
Rinse your mouth with water immediately after eating any sugar – even after drinking milk (which has sugar in it). Wait ½ hour after eating sugars to brush your teeth. The enamel is weakened for that amount of time after sugars and acids, so you don’t want to brush until a time later – but do remember to brush then.
Fruits have natural sugars – fruit is ok to eat in moderation. Don’t eat a lot of fruit – eat more vegetables than fruits. Fruits are nutritious and good for you – just find a balance. Just rinse and brush afterwards as explained above. Go easy on dried fruits, where the sugars are more concentrated.
Try to cut down on sugars, on desserts, and on sweetening your foods. Learn to love the flavors of foods without sweetening them. Try different, healthier sweeteners. It will be better for your health and appearance.
P.R.
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