Over the last 30 years, added sugar has been one of the leading contributors to America’s obesity epidemic. This is not just speculation – there are hundreds of scientific studies on the effect of sugar on health and wellness. Until recently, it’s been one of the most underreported and underestimated health risks.
Here some of the facts that were uncovered by these various studies about how sugar affects your health:
- Check the labels for added sugar: There is a difference between naturally occurring sugars and added sugar. Added sugar is something that gets introduced during the processing period. It’s not something that naturally occurs in the product, fruit, or vegetable. Read the labels and look for ingredients like brown sugar, honey, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, malt sugar, molasses, raw sugar, and sugar. Also, anything that ends in “ose” like dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose. And then there is the sugar you add yourself – like a spoonful to your coffee or honey to your oatmeal.
- How much is acceptable? The American Heart Association says no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day. That’s just six teaspoons! Unfortunately, we’re way over that limit. Americans consume 19.5 teaspoons of sugar every day. That’s more than three times the recommended amount.
- What are the health risks of extra sugar? The result is clear: obesity has been on a steep increase in America., which brings with it a slew of health problems. Studies link sugar to cardiovascular disease, the world’s number one cause of death. Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, points out that although sugar’s impact on obesity and diabetes is well documented, it can also have a serious impact on heart health.
- Sugar affects your immune system. Studies have shown spikes in sugar intake suppress your immune system. When your immune system is compromised, you’re less able to are more likely ward off disease. That’s not something you want for yourself or your family right now!
- How to beat that sweet tooth. It can be very hard to ditch the craving for sweetness on your own. Find a Nutrition Response Testing® practitioner and get tested to discover how your body reacts to sugar. Get a personalized nutrition plan that addresses any health issues. Work with a nutrition coach to help you overcome the cravings and get on a healthy diet, so that your body can get the nutrients it needs to heal itself.
