Because most people love the taste of sugary foods, it is tempting to ignore the health consequences from chronic use of refined sugar. In fact, regular consumption of the refined sweetener can cause serious damage to your body. While weaning yourself off of a sugar addiction can be challenging, it is important to understand the dangers of continued sugar consumption versus the health benefits of switching to a natural sugar substitute.
24 Ways Sugar Harms Your Health
1. Sugar Links to Diabetes and Blood Sugar Fluctuations
Refined sugar has a direct effect on your blood sugar levels and is a main cause of diabetes.
2. Sugar and Obesity
With the zero nutritional value and no fiber content in sugar, it’s clearly implicated in obesity, which can cause many other illnesses and conditions.
Related: What Can Make You Overweight and Cause Obesity
3. Sugar and Anxiety Disorders
Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children and even adults. One of the first things that a person diagnosed with anxiety disorder is told to eliminate is refined sugar.
4. Sugar and the Aging Process
Another result that stems from the fact that sugar has no nutritional value, is that it accelerates the aging process. In order for a body to remain healthy it must have the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to maintain vigor and energy. Again, sugar is not only void of nutrients, but it also zaps the body of the good stuff that is already there.
5. Addiction
Sugar is addictive.It can be intoxicating similar to alcohol and can contribute to alcoholism.
6. Weight gain and eating disorders
Eating excessive amounts of sugar leads to weight gain and other illnesses associated with obesity. Because sugar is addictive, consuming it causes sugar cravings and binge eating.
Related: Simple Steps to Fend Off Those Sugar Cravings
7 Dental problems
Sugar causes tooth and gum decay and can cause your saliva to turn acidic which may result in you paying a visit to the dentist.
8. Tired and achy muscles
Eating sugar can make you feel weak and tired; it zaps your energy.
9. Hypoglycemia
Sugar increases fasting glucose levels and can cause reactive hypoglycemia.
10. Blood vessel damage
Sugar compromises the lining of your capillaries and also contributes to varicose veins.
11. Depression and irritability
Sugary snacks get you through your afternoon slump, but in the end you feel worse than before you ate them. Too much sugar makes you feel irritable and depressed.
12. Heart problems
Excess sugar has been linked to atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Related: 5 Reasons Why You Don’t Need To Count Calories
13. Kidney and liver problems
Excess sugar can be damaging to your kidney and liver; it increases the size of both organs and causes kidney stones.
14. Sleep disorders
Eating too many refined sugars disturbs the normal sleep cycle.
15. Cancer
Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been linked with the development of many cancers including breast, ovarian, prostate, rectal, pancreatic, lung, gallbladder, and stomach.
16. Aging
Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and can lead to premature aging of the skin.
17. Diabetes
Sugar leads to a decrease in your insulin sensitivity causing high insulin levels and diabetes.
18. Candida
Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of candida albicans (yeast infection).
19. Immune suppression
Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.
20. Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders
Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children. Sugar reduces learning capacity, adversely affects children’s grades in school, and can exacerbate learning and behavioral disorders.
21. Eyesight
Sugar weakens eyesight; it leads to cataracts and nearsightedness.
22. Autoimmune disease
Sugar aggravates autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis.
23. Gastrointestinal disorders
Sugar is associated with an acidic digestive tract, heartburn, indigestion, ulcers, malabsorption, candida overgrowth, food allergies, and an increased risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
24. Mineral absorption
Sugar interferes with calcium and magnesium absorption, contributing to osteoporosis. Sugar also causes chromium and copper deficiencies.
Natural Sugar Alternatives
Natural sugar alternatives allow you to enjoy the sweet taste of sugar without the damaging effects on your body. Stevia and Agave are two natural sweeteners that are gaining a lot of attention.
-
Stevia
It is a chemical-free sugar alternative with zero calories. It is especially useful for people with hypoglycemia because it stabilizes blood sugar in the body. It also lowers blood pressure and protects your teeth and gums.
-
Agave
It contains the same amount of calories as sugar, but it is a natural product – unrefined fructose – derived from the Mexican Agave plant. It is safe for diabetics to consume, it lowers cholesterol, and it is great for cooking.
Using natural sugar alternatives can be just the thing you need to lick the sugar habit. Giving up sugar does not mean you have to give up taste. With the availability of natural sweeteners, it is possible to satisfy your sweet tooth without harming your health.
