Sugar can be hazardous to your health

Sugar can be hazardous to your health

Are you one of the many people who just cannot resist the temptation of sugar? Unfortunately it is no secret that excess consumption of sugar can ruin your health.

Sugar, like all other foods, when consumed in large quantities may lead to a variety of health problems such as diabetes, tooth decay, obesity and caloric imbalance.

Sadly enough, sugar addiction has become an acceptable norm in most societies. It is not uncommon to see people add large amounts of sugar to their beverages or food without a care in the world.

What is even more devastating is that no one is prepared to admit that we have got a serious matter, when in reality it is very serious indeed. This problem is no way different from cocaine or heroin addiction.

Despite the warnings many people still fail to realise that their bodies are not able to cope with high sugar levels. According to research, white blood cells are less efficient at fighting illness when exposed to sugar.

The only single beneficial effect of eating sugar is that it provides energy, which is used by the body.

But the thing to remember is that rapid burst of energy is usually followed by sudden drop in energy levels. In most cases people are left feeling tired and unfocused and depressed.

Foods that we eat often that have high sugar content include chocolate, biscuits, cakes and many more.

Some other health conditions in which sugar may play a role include:

• Premature aging
• Eczema
• Kidney disease
• Poor absorption of minerals

Another disturbing habit is that many do not make it a point to check labels to see if the substance is added whenever shopping.

Best sugars

It is important to satisfy the sweet tooth, but this can be done by replacing it with natural sugar substitutes.

The best sugars are often found in vegetables and fruits, which provide the best source of energy and offer more nutritional benefits such as fibre and antioxidants

Tips to manage sugar intake

Getting rid of sugar from a diet is not a simple task because as many would like to believe.

However, it is important to note that it is not the normal plain sugar that only affects our health. Other foods that also contribute to raising our blood sugar are mashed potatoes, processed bread, pancakes, desserts and surprisingly even cornflakes. These foods convert quickly to sugar in our body.

Other ways of managing your intake of sugar include the following:

• Avoid fizzy or sweetened drinks. These drinks usually contain a very amount of sugar. Instead drink water or go for zero-sugar alternative fizzy drink.
• Decrease the amount of sugar you add to your tea or coffee
• Two sweets or two blocks of chocolate per day is enough to satisfy craving for sugar
• Include lemon into your diet to balance if you can not handle the acidic taste on its own, you can put a slice in a glass of water or herbal tea.
• Always keep fruits such as apples, bananas and oranges near you. Avoid buying sweet biscuits and cakes whenever you go out for shopping
• Eat for the right reasons. If you find yourself consuming large quantities of sugar always ask yourself if you really need to eat it.