As human beings, we are drawn to the tempting sweetness of sugar. It’s becoming increasingly clear by how much we consume in our diets. The American Dietetic Association said that Americans, on average, consume 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily. This amount is double the amount recommended daily by the American Heart Association. Here are only a few shocking reasons why it is best to avoid sugar.
1. Sugar contributes to obesity
The problem with sugar is that even if you eat just a small amount, it results in a large amount of empty calories. As we all know, calories do count. High intakes of sugar over time results in obesity – which causes many other health problems.
2. Sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes
As mentioned before, too much sugar can easily lead to obesity and people who are over weight are 10 times more likely to develop diabetes. 10 times! That’s no coincidence.
3. Sugar can cause heart disease
New studies indicate high blood sugar and insulin have a massive impact on a person’s risk for developing heart disease. Diabetics are at an increased risk for heart disease because their blood sugar level is often higher than it should be, but researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, say that even non-diabetics who have long-term high blood sugar levels have an increased risk of heart disease.
4. Sugar can cause depression
Next time you feel depressed, don’t reach for the bag of Oreos or can of soda pop. To simplify explaining the process, all you need to know is that sugar messes up our brain chemistry. It may relieve depression for a short period of time, but in the long run, it does more harm than good.
5. Sugar feeds cancer
Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles have found that processed sugar actually feeds cancer cells. They suggest limiting sugar in the diets of cancer patients to slow cancer growth.
6. Sugar can cause premature aging
Want to save money on all those aging creams and lotions? Limit your intake of sugar. Seriously. Sugar can make skin age by changing the structure of collagen. Another fact to give you some extra motivation to skip those sugary desserts.