SUGAR CONSUMPTION: RISKS AND REWARDS

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 SUGAR CONSUMPTION: RISKS AND REWARDS





Sugar gets a bad rap, and for good reason—too much of it has been tied to a whole host of health problems, especially long-term ones. Here’s what’s going on:

When you load up on added sugars, especially from things like sodas and sweetened drinks, you’re piling on extra calories. That often leads to weight gain, and carrying extra weight is a significant risk factor for diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Research has consistently shown that the more sugar people eat, the higher the rates of obesity in both kids and adults.

There’s also a strong link between high sugar intake and heart problems. One major study found that people who got 17–21% of their daily calories from added sugars were much more likely to die from heart disease than those who kept it under 10%.

Sugar can also mess with your body’s ability to handle insulin, raising your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, especially if you’re getting a lot of it from sugary drinks. And let’s not forget dental health: sugar fuels the bacteria in your mouth, which make acid that eats away at your teeth and causes cavities.

On top of that, eating a lot of fructose (the sweet stuff in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup) can overload your liver, leading to a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Excess sugar has also been linked, though less clearly, to things like chronic inflammation, high blood pressure, and possibly even some cancers.

The good news is that natural sugars found in whole fruits aren’t something to stress about—fruits come with fiber and nutrients that help your body. The real trouble comes from added sugars and eating more than your body needs.

To sum it up: sugar’s reputation as a health risk comes from its links to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, liver issues, and dental problems—especially when you’re getting a lot of it from added sources. That’s why most health experts advise reducing added sugars to help keep chronic diseases at bay.

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