Why Too Much Sugar is Bad For You

Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that provides calories, but it is empty calories because it does not have any nutritional value.

There are three types of sugar: naturally occurring sugar that comes from fruits and vegetables, refined sugars like those in sweetened drinks and processed food, and sugar alcohols.

The risks of ingesting too much sugar in our diet include obesity, diabetes, heart disease, inflammation, and many other health conditions.

Too much sugar in our diets can cause:

• Acne
• Premature Skin-aging
• Low Energy
• Fatty Liver
• Kidney Disease
• Gout
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• Obesity
• Inflammation

How Can You Avoid Too Much Sugar? 

Excess sugar is found in many modern food products and beverages. A great way to avoid too much sugar is to read the labels on the food you buy and to choose products with less sugar. You might be surprised just how much added sugar you’re consuming every day.

Simply by eating whole, unprocessed foods you can drastically reduce your sugar consumption to a more healthy amount.

What are the Best Sources of Healthy Sugars?

The best sources of healthy sugars are actually found in vegetables and fruits. The average adult should limit fruit consumption to 1-2 servings daily.

With a little bit of effort and lifestyle changes you can swap refined sugar for more natural sources.

Here’s a few tips:

• Swap your soda and soft drinks for water. Add flavor with fresh fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries or cucumber.
• Buy plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruit and nuts.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages mixed with soda and syrups.
• Be mindful of food labels.
• Craving chocolate? Try a handful of dark chocolate chips instead of a candy bar.
• Add a source of protein or healthy fat such as nut butter to one serving of fruit in breakfast smoothies to avoid blood sugar spikes.
• Use natural sweeteners like honey, organic stevia, or organic maple syrup in place of artificial sweeteners and refined sugars.
• Keep whole nuts available for easy snacking.
• Prepare food at home from whole, fresh ingredients.

Steer Clear of High Amounts of Sugars, Especially Refined Sugars

Too much sugar is bad for you. Avoiding high amounts of sugars will reduce your risk for diabetes, weight gain and inflammation. We all love a sweet now and then but try to keep a healthy balance, since an over-consumption of refined sugars can be detrimental to our health.

Ready to make a healthy lifestyle change but not sure where to start. We offer Nutritional Therapy and guidance here in our office. Good health starts with a solid foundation. We can help you make the changes that will improve your health and help you feel and look better in a way that works best for you.