How Unhealthy Is Sugar?

By Sally A.

For many people, sugary foods are a big part of their diets. While it may well be true that we all like the odd sweet treat (or three!), you might be surprised to find out what impact this is having on your general health.

Studies conducted on animals suggest that yeast and bacteria feed on sugar. If they get out of control they can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to whatever bug or virus is going round. Gum disease can ultimately lead to heart disease, most likely because sugar is believed to weaken the immune system.

Sugar can contribute to the ageing process as it attaches itself to proteins, leading to a loss of elasticity. The more sugar you eat the faster this process takes place. Cut down on the sugar if you want to stay looking young!

Sugar raises your stress levels. When you are stressed, your body employs its adrenaline chemicals in preparation for an emergency. It also calls on these same chemicals when your blood sugar level falls after having eaten something sugary. This helps to raise your blood sugar level but can also make you feel irritable and anxious. On the flipside, having a low blood sugar can make you feel irritable, tired and prone to headaches.

A diet that is rich in sugary foods is often lacking in vitamins A, C, B-12 and minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium, all of which are vital to maintaining a healthy body.

It is often suggested that eating a lot of sugar causes diabetes. While it doesn’t help, diabetes isn’t a direct consequence of a sugar-rich diet. Diabetes is actually caused by an imbalance of insulin in your body, and it is perfectly ok for you to still eat sugar even if you are diabetic - as long as it’s done in moderation.

However, the glucose found in sugar is thought by some to speed up the growth of cancerous cells. This has not been widely tested though, and so may not be entirely true.

Whatever the truth, nutritionists always advise you to eat sugar as only a small part of your diet. There is enough sugar in most foods to satisfy a sugar rush so it’s best to cut out the extra sugar found in candy and other forms of junk food.