You probably snack on sugary foods almost every day, but you tend to eat more of it during the holidays. With Halloween over, Thanksgiving coming up and Christmas just around the corner, take a look at what sugar is all about and why it's not good to each too much of it.
Eating excessive amounts of sugar may increase your risk of developing certain cancers.
Sugar - Why Is It Bad for You?
Sugar tastes so good, but the kinds of food that taste good are usually bad for your health. Unfortunately, that's the case with sugar. Sugar is a carbohydrate so it's a source of energy (that's why you can feel hyper), but eating a lot of sugary foods and drinks, especially pop, can lead to cavaties and obesity. It's cool to eat a small amount of sugar every day, but eat too much of it and you'll just be taking in empty calories, which don't give your body a single drop of nutrients.
Consuming too much added sugar increases heart disease risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and inflammation.
Sugar - What Foods Can It Be Found In?
Sugar, which is made up of fructose and glucose, can take the form of white, brown or raw sugar, honey or corn syrup. Sugar occurs naturally in some foods like fruit, but it's usually added - often with fat - to junk food like chocolate, cookies, cakes, soft drinks, donuts, pastries, candies and pretty much any other commercially-produced food you can find on grocery store shelves.
Consuming a lot of processed foods, including high-sugar products such as cakes and sugary drinks, has been associated with a higher risk of depression.
Sugar - Did U Know?
- There is no recommended daily intake for sugar.
- Mary Poppins said "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down in the most delightful way."
- Initially, sugar was so rare and expensive only royalty could afford it—and in very small quantities at that.
- The three main types of simple sugars -- glucose, fructose and galactose -- all contain the same chemical makeup, but they differ in structure.
- Sugar is highly addictive and quitting sugar abruptly can cause pain, nausea, and flu-like symptoms.
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