 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUGAR FACTS
Excessive sugar is not the best idea when it comes to healthy living. Most people know that eating or drinking sugar-filled snacks or treats are not good for them, but for some reason they think sugar is not as risky to their health as food or drinks full of fat, salt or calories.
1. FRUCTOSE SUGAR vs. GLUCOSE SUGAR
2. SUGAR CALORIES
3. SUGAR CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEART.
There is a lot of research to show that excess sugar can increase the risk of heart disease, but a research study in Journal of the American Heart Association shows that sugar can affect the muscles pumping your heart and could increase risk of heart failure.
4. SUGAR CAN GIVE US A FAT BELLY.
In the past 30 years, childhood obesity (being overweight) has doubled, and for teens it has tripled. One thing that seems to happen to obese children is that they have bigger waists or bellies. Why? One cause may be the increase in fructose- (corn syrup-) filled drinks. A 2010 study in children found that excess fructose intake (but not glucose intake) actually caused fat cells to mature, setting the stage for a big belly and even bigger risk for future health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
5. SUGAR IS THE SILENT KILLER.
A study in 2010 showed consuming, eating and/or drinking too much fructose was linked to an increase of a condition called leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that tells us when we have eaten enough food. For some people, though, leptin does not work, leaving the person with no signal from the stomach to the brain with the body has had enough to eat. This can lead to overeating and obesity.
6. SUGAR AND ALCOHOL HAVE SIMILAR TOXIC (POISONOUS) EFFECTS ON THE LIVER.
A 2012 paper in the journal NATURE presented the idea that limitations and warnings should be placed on sugar similar to warnings we see on alcohol. The authors showed evidence that too much sugar can have a toxic effect on the liver, just as too much alcohol does.
7. SUGAR MAY SAP (LESSEN or DRAIN) BRAIN POWER.
A study in 2009 found a relationship between too much sugar and the aging of our cells. There is evidence that too much sugar can cause wrinkles, disease and even memory loss and poor overall health. A study in 2009 with rats showed the same findings.
8. SUGAR HIDES IN EVERYDAY FOOD.
Many people try to avoid the “normal” sugar foods and drinks like candy, soda, cake and cookies. But many of our favorite foods include sugar, from tomato sauce to crackers and even bread. READ THE LABEL, AND BE SURPRISED!
9. AN OVERLOAD OF SUGAR, SPECIFICALLY IN BEVERAGES, MAY SHORTEN YOUR LIFE.
A study in 2013 estimated that 180,000 deaths worldwide may be linked to drinking sugary drinks. In the USA, sugary drinks caused 25,000 deaths in 2010. The authors say that deaths occurred due to the association with sugar-sweetened drinks and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
10. SUGAR IS MAKING YOU FAT!
The last fact is the most obvious. While you may know that too many calories from any source will be stored as fat if not burned, you may not know that the lack of other nutrients in sugar actually makes it much easier to consume gobs of it with no physical effects to warn us that we’re eating too much. Foods rich in fiber, fat and protein signal us when we are full. Sugar will give you the calories, but not the feeling that you’ve had enough. That’s why you can have an ENTIRE KING-SIZED BAG of licorice at the movies and come out still ready to go for dinner.