How Sugar Affects Your Body

Calories

In fresh foods, a limited amount of sugar is necessary for good health. Too much sugar can be very unhealthy. People who got about 20% of their calories from sugar had a 38% greater chance of dying of cardiovascular disease.

Weight gain

Eating too much added sugar can add pounds quickly. The more sugar you eat, the more fat will be stored. It can also ‘turn off’ the full signal, leading you to keep eating after you’ve had enough.

Heart disease

Sugary drinks can bump up your blood pressure. Eating sugar laden processed food is associated with more fat in your bloodstream. That’s a bad combination, making heart disease much more likely

Acne

Believe it or not, eating too much sugar can send your hormones spiraling out of control. In addition to causing many other problems, that can lead to acne breakouts and bad skin.

Diabetes

There may be a lot of factors that go into developing type 2 diabetes. However, more sugar leads to weight gain and insulin resistance, which are the two main risk factors for developing diabetes.

Cancer

While cancer cells need sugar to function, so do healthy cells. There’s no direct connection between sugar and cancer. However, sugar can lead to weight gain and excess fat, both of which are linked to an increased chance of cancer.

Depression

While mental disorders like depression and anxiety are thought of as behavioral problems, there may be hormonal triggers. Men and women who consumed higher amounts of sugar were 23% more likely to develop depression or another common mental disorder.

Aging

Sugar molecules can connect elastin and collagen, two amino acids that support the skin. Called glycation, that process can increase wrinkling and other signs of aging. More seriously, glycation is also associated with the aging process of internal organs.

Dental health

Plaque and tooth decay are caused primarily by the bacteria living in your mouth, eating through your teeth and leaving behind plaque. Sugar acts as fuel for those bacteria, sending them into overdrive.

Gout

Dietary fructose and naturally occurring fructose when consumed in large amounts can lead to the development of gout. Two or more daily glasses of fruit drinks may increase the chances of developing gout by 81%.

Calories

In fresh foods, a limited amount of sugar is necessary for good health. Too much sugar can be very unhealthy. People who got about 20% of their calories from sugar had a 38% greater chance of dying of cardiovascular disease.

Weight gain

Eating too much added sugar can add pounds quickly. The more sugar you eat, the more fat will be stored. It can also ‘turn off’ the full signal, leading you to keep eating after you’ve had enough.

Heart disease

Sugary drinks can bump up your blood pressure. Eating sugar laden processed food is associated with more fat in your bloodstream. That’s a bad combination, making heart disease much more likely

Acne

Believe it or not, eating too much sugar can send your hormones spiraling out of control. In addition to causing many other problems, that can lead to acne breakouts and bad skin.

Diabetes

There may be a lot of factors that go into developing type 2 diabetes. However, more sugar leads to weight gain and insulin resistance, which are the two main risk factors for developing diabetes.

Cancer

While cancer cells need sugar to function, so do healthy cells. There’s no direct connection between sugar and cancer. However, sugar can lead to weight gain and excess fat, both of which are linked to an increased chance of cancer.

Depression

While mental disorders like depression and anxiety are thought of as behavioral problems, there may be hormonal triggers. Men and women who consumed higher amounts of sugar were 23% more likely to develop depression or another common mental disorder.

Aging

Sugar molecules can connect elastin and collagen, two amino acids that support the skin. Called glycation, that process can increase wrinkling and other signs of aging. More seriously, glycation is also associated with the aging process of internal organs.

Dental health

Plaque and tooth decay are caused primarily by the bacteria living in your mouth, eating through your teeth and leaving behind plaque. Sugar acts as fuel for those bacteria, sending them into overdrive.

Gout

Dietary fructose and naturally occurring fructose when consumed in large amounts can lead to the development of gout. Two or more daily glasses of fruit drinks may increase the chances of developing gout by 81%.

How to cut down on sugar in cooking

Harvard Health Publishing

Database from Health Information and Medical Information

Harvard Medical School
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Database From Cleveland Clinic Foundation

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Trusted Source

Database From U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Governmental Authority
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WHO

Database from World Health Organization

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Neurology Journals

American Academy of Neurology Journals

American Academy of Neurology
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MDPI

United Nations Global Compact
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Database From National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
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Database from U.S. National Library of Medicine

U.S. Federal Government
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Trusted Source

Database From Department of Health and Human Services

Governmental Authority
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PubMed Central

Database From National Institute Of Health

U.S National Library of Medicine
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