6 Health Effects of Sugar: How to Consume Less
One of the biggest reasons we’re consuming so much sugar is because it is literally in everything we eat. Even foodstuffs, like salad dressing, yogurt, ketchup, bread, pastas, and many other products contain sugar.
Whether we consider these foods healthy or not, at the very least they are not seen as desserts, so they are not perceived as foods that contain added sugars.
Sugar is part of our familiar diet, but consuming too much can have negative effects on our health, whether it’s in beverages, desserts or processed foods. Especially in this era where consuming processed foods has become a common thing that everyone does, sugar hidden in various types of food can deteriorate our health without us realizing it.
The effects of consuming too much sugar
1. Increased risk of diabetes
Consuming too much sugar makes your body less responsive to insulin, which can lead to insulin resistance and increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
2. Obesity and overweight
Sugar consumed in excess of the body’s needs is converted into fat, which results in weight gain, leading to obesity and other health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
3. Have oral health problems
Sugar is a primary food source for ทางเข้า ufabet bacteria in the mouth. Consuming too much sugary foods can lead to a buildup of plaque and bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
4. Increased risk of heart disease
Consuming high amounts of sugar can increase triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which are major risk factors for heart disease.
5. Causes sugar addiction
Sugar can trigger feel-good chemicals in the brain, which can lead to cravings for more sugar. This is one of the reasons why many people become addicted to sweet foods and end up consuming more sugar than necessary.
6 ways to reduce sugar consumption
1. Always read food labels.
Many processed foods and drinks contain hidden sugars. Reading labels can help you know how much sugar is added before you buy them.
2. Reduce your consumption of sugary drinks.
Sugary drinks such as soft drinks, fruit juices, or sweetened teas and coffees contain a very high amount of sugar. We should reduce our consumption and switch to water, mineral water, or herbal teas without added sugar.
3. Choose fruit instead of sweets.
If you have a sweet tooth, fresh fruits can be a good alternative to sugary snacks.
4. Adjust eating behavior
Try to reduce the amount of sugar you add when eating, or you can choose to use natural sweeteners such as stevia or honey in appropriate amounts instead of adding sugar.
5. Cook your own food.
Cooking your own food allows us to control the amount of sugar in our food and choose healthier ingredients.
6. Gradually reduce sugar consumption.
If you consume a lot of sugar, you should gradually reduce the amount. You should not reduce it abruptly because it may make you feel like you don’t want sweets. You should gradually adjust your consumption behavior to be balanced.