The Detrimental Health Effects of Sugar

Abstract

We hear so often that we should avoid sugar as much as possible because it is not good for our health. It is important to understand the reasons WHY and HOW it is detrimental to our health. To begin with a definition of what sugar is, it is a carbohydrate that provides energy for our body, and is found naturally in most plants, but especially in sugar cane and sugar beets. Before sugar (sucrose) enters the bloodstream from the digestive tract, it is broken down into two simple sugars called glucose and fructose. Glucose is in every living cell, and if we don't get it from our diet, our bodies produce it [2]. Fructose is different because our bodies do not produce it in any significant amount, and there is no physiological need for it [2]. Fructose can only be metabolized by the liver in large amounts, which is usually not a problem if it is eaten in moderate amounts [2]. It will be turned into glycogen and stored in the liver until it is needed [2]. However, if the liver is overloaded with glycogen, then consuming more fructose will turn it into fat [2]. For people who are inactive and eat a Western diet, large amounts of fructose from added sugars get turned into fat in the liver [2]. When sugar is transported into the body, it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. Some “good” sugars are found naturally in foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains, while others “bad sugars” are added and used during processing and cooking (added sugars).