Damaging Effects of Consuming Excess Sugar

If you are a great sugar lover, or have a sweet tooth, then this post may not be for you(Big smile). Sugar provides an average of 16 percent of calories in the standard diet of most people. Sugar can be consumed by taking soft drinks, eating fast food, consuming beverages and eating desserts. This corresponds to a whopping 18 to 26 teaspoons of extra sugar a day.

Excess sugar in your diet can not only make you gain weight, but can also negatively affect your overall health. This can lead to the following:

Weight Gain

Its no surprise that consuming too much sugar can make you gain weight. Extra sugar the body does not need immediately for energy can easily be converted to triglycerides, a type of fat that can be stored around your waist as well as in your hips and thighs. Sugary drinks, such as soft drinks and beverages don't help either as they hardly satisfy and would leave you craving for more. This can lead to rapid weight gain.

Diabetes

The sugar you eventually eat, makes its way to your bloodstream, where it can elevate your blood sugar levels. One of  the damaging effect of a diet high in sugar and other refined carbohydrates is that it puts you at risk of developing  type 2 diabetes. Too much sugar in your diet can prevent you from keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

Impaired Immune System

Your immune system is one of the most important defense mechanisms your body has against infections. Eating too much sugar can seriously compromise the ability of your immune system to fight viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Chronic Diseases

In addition to your blood sugar levels, constantly eating too much sugar can also result in elevated insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone your pancreas produces in response to rising blood sugar levels. The more sugar and refined carbohydrates you eat, the more insulin your pancreas produces. Chronically high insulin levels are associated with an increased risk of some cancers, heart diseases, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acne, and even myopia. Reducing your sugar intake will help you lower your insulin levels and your risk of developing these chronic conditions.

Though excessive intake of sugar is bad, we should bear in mind that staying away from sugar totally can also be harmful to your body. This is because the body requires some level of sugar to function. Just have moderation in mind when consuming sugar.