The Impact Of Sugar On Your Health

While you likely try to consciously avoid any foods that consist of pure sugar such as chewy candy, soda and 'fruit' flavoured beverages or snacks (fruit roll-ups for example), often you are unaware of how many of the foods you eat that you think are healthy, actually contain a very large amount of sugar. Sugar can come in many different disguises. For example, if you see any one on the following words as one of the primary ingredients on a food label you know that you are about to consume a food that has a large quantity of simple carbohydrates in it.

~Brown sugar, corn syrup, Demerara sugar, dextrose, fructose, galactose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, maltodextrin, maltose, molasses, rice syrup, sucrose and of course sugar.

That food is likely not going to help you out at all in your quest for health and should not be consumed. In addition to providing you with a very empty source of calories, all that sugar also contributes to a wide range of negative health implications. Below is a list of the top 30 problems that sugar contributes to.

1. Sugar decreases the effectiveness of the immune system.

2. Sugar can cause anxiety, difficulty with concentrating and moodiness in some individuals.

3. Sugar can cause a significant increase in triglyceride levels.

4. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, therefore the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.

5. Sugar reduces your count of high-density lipoproteins.

6. Sugar can contribute to a chromium or copper deficiency.

7. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.

8. Sugar can cause problems with eyesight.

9. Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, all of which play very important roles in the regulation of mood states and energy levels.

10. Sugar can cause hypoglycaemia, which will leave you feeling weak, tired and shaky.

11. Sugar contributes to obesity since it is a very concentrated, nutrient void source of calories.

12. High intake of sugar increases your chances of developing Crohn's Disease, and ulcerative colitis.

13. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of arthritis and osteoporosis.

14. Sugar can cause asthma.

15. Sugar can increase the occurrence of gallstones.

16. Sugar can cause ischemic heart disease.

17. Sugar can lead to varicose veins.

18. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity, which is a predominant factor in metabolic syndrome X and the development of diabetes.

19. Sugar can decrease growth hormone output, which is one of the most important hormones for muscular growth.

20. Sugar can increase cholesterol levels and systolic blood pressure.

21. Sugar can trigger severe migraine headaches in those who are susceptible to them.

22. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.

23. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.

24. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function, thus reducing the rate of metabolic transactions in the body.

25. Sugar can damage the pancreas.

26. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of depression.

27. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.

28. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold-increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.

29. Sugar can exacerbate symptoms of PMS.

30. Sugar suppresses lymphocytes, which play an important role in warding off illness in the body.

So when you see sugar or any other form of sugar on the food you are eating, you may want to rethink that decision if your overall well-being is a consideration for you.