Not everything that glitters is gold, not everything that is sweet is good That was authentically proven by a recent study after showing that processed sugar does more harm than good to human health. Prior to the study, many others have suggested the same thing in the past, leading to a loud and endless sensitization by medical establishments and health media platforms to reduce intake of this sweetener.
The most shocking thing about the discovery is that the sugar industry has known about the adverse health effects of sugar for over 50 years. Instead of publishing the truth, researchers at the University of California at San Francisco found that the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF) has covered up a first piece of evidence that sugar is harmful to health.
“The sugar industry has published no evidence of harm from animal studies that would have (1) strengthened the case that sucrose’s risk of coronary heart disease is higher than that of starch, and (2) led to sucrose being examined as a potential carcinogen . “
Sugar production is incomplete without the use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
HFCS, also known as glucose-fructose syrup, is a cornstarch sweetener that has been processed by glucose isomerase to convert some of its glucose into fructose.
Fructose from added sugars is the main crusher with sugar. A high intake of fructose leads to serious health problems after just 10 weeks. It is good to mention that fructose from fruit is very healthy.
The group taking the fructose-sweetened drink was found to have:
- Elevated blood triglycerides
- Elevated small dense LDL and oxidized LDL (very bad cholesterol)
- Higher fasting glucose and insulin
- Decreased insulin sensitivity
- Increased fat in the abdominal cavity (visceral fat)
The above results explain why sugar can contribute to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and ill health in general. And here’s why you should reevaluate your sugar intake:
1. Low / no nutritional value
First of all, sugar has no known nutritional value. In hypoglycemic conditions, highly concentrated sugar drinks are essential. That being said, getting glucose from natural food sources and fruits is better than processed sugar.
Sugar lacks vitamins, minerals, fiber and calories. They’re typically found in pastries, sodas, and candy bars, making them minimally nutritious.
2. Deposits fat in the liver
The only organ that can metabolize fructose is the liver. In physically active individuals, fructose helps replenish low glycogen as a result of intense activity such as running.
Where this is not the case, a excess of fructose will be converted to fat. While some of these fats are exported and stored in adipose tissue, others remain in the liver. If it builds up over time, it can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
3. Increases bad cholesterol
Most of the fat produced in the liver is excreted as VLDL (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein) particles, which are high in triglycerides and bad cholesterol.
4. Obesity / Diabetes
Sugar makes you hungrier and pushes you to consume more of it. No wonder why it is one of the main causes of obesity.
According to the 10-week study of the group consuming artificially sweetened beverages, excess fructose causes insulin resistance. This becomes a direct cause of obesity.
It is insulin that helps absorb the sugar in the bloodstream and use it for energy. In excess, the body’s cells tend to become resistant to the effects of insulin.
Fructose increases blood sugar, which is toxic.
5. Addiction
Sugar can be addictive. When testing rats, researchers found that they became physically addicted to sugar. Judging by the rates at which junk food is consumed, this may actually be the case for humans.
Overall, there are many health conditions that are directly or indirectly related to this component as indicated above. Here are some of them:
- Cancer: It has been shown that those who eat a high glycemic (GL) diet can increase their chances of developing prostate cancer by up to 30%.
- Alzheimer’s: Consumption of sugar over time could also lead to shrinking of the hippocampus. This is especially the case in people with Alzheimer’s.
While fructose was mentioned above, there are other forms of sugar as well:
- Glucose: This is the most popular of all, and is the simplest form of sugar and is obtained from almost all everyday foods, although the amount varies. There is more in honey and fruit.
- Fructose: Everyday things that give fructose include soda, candy, sweetened yogurt, bread, canned fruit, and more.
- Galactose: Also known as milk sugar, this is found in dairy products and both human and animal milk.
- Other forms are lactose, maltose, sucrose and xylose.