We’ve Done The Research On Sugar And Made It Super Easy For You To Understand

Team Htv

5 years ago

We assume that sugar is out rightly something sweet but that isn’t always the case. Sugar can be:

Glucose: Produced by your body as it breaks down both simple and complex carbohydrates. It is also found occurring naturally in some foods like honey and peaches.
Sucrose: Made up of equal parts glucose and fructose. Most commonly known as ‘table sugar’. Extracted from sugar cane/beets. It is naturally occurring in many fruits and vegetables but is added to processed foods.
Fructose: It is ‘fruit sugar’. Naturally occurring in most fruits and vegetables as well as honey and agave. It is added to processed foods as high-fructose corn syrup.

Carbohydrates (as well as fat and protein) are the body’s source of energy
The use of refined sugar is one of the reasons why some carbs are “bad”
All carbs will break down in your body and produce glucose- blood sugar
Bad carbs, those including refined flour and added sugar, break down faster causing blood sugar levels to spike
Good carbs, complex carbohydrates such as whole-grains and brown rice, break down slowly so it is easier for the body to regulate
Not all simple carbs/sugars are bad, you can find them in nutritious fruit

Moderation is key. The recommended daily allowance for added sugar is 6 teaspoons a day for women and 9 for men
There is no need to deliberately incorporate added sugar in your diet but if you have a sweet tooth, you don’t have to deprive yourself

Sugar is strongly related to a higher risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
Too much of sugar creates insulin resistance- which can lead to diabetes
Cavities
Fructose goes through the liver and too much of it will cause a liver to become fatty
Results in weight gain
Gives temporary energy (sugar high) but as the levels deplete you may experience a sugar crash
It can cause depression
It is an addictive substance
Damages the collagen in your skin
Likely affects sexual performance in males
Disturbs your sleep cycle

If you’re keeping up with a relatively healthy lifestyle, you can go ahead and have that soda you’re craving
Keeping your sugar intake in check is the most important thing; a little awareness goes a long way
Know where your sugar is coming from; you may be enjoying yourself some baked beans for breakfast while being blissfully unaware that it does in fact contain sugar
It’s hard to kick the sugar habit, just allow yourself time and patience