When it comes to health, sugar has a mixed reputation, with more and more diabetologists raising alarm over its negative effects on the human body in recent years. Sugar is found in all carbohydrate-containing foods, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy. As such, it is extremely difficult to maintain a balanced diet while trying to avoid sugar altogether, as well as carbohydrates. However, it is unclear how much sugar is natural for a human to consume.
Due to the advances in medicine and food production alike, modern diets are drastically different from those of early humans. The majority of foods that contain significant amounts of sugar and processed carbohydrates have been through multiple stages of production and processing, and thus cannot be judged by the criteria of natural and unnatural (Freeman et al., 2258). Instead, it is advisable to intake these foods in moderation and be mindful of the multiple negative effects that excessive amounts of sugar and carbohydrates might have on the human body.
Higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease are all documented effects that arise from the excessive consumption of sugar. Most of these symptoms either correlate or directly overlap with heart diseases and increased stroke risk. Dr. Hu and his colleagues discovered a link between a high-sugar diet and a higher risk of dying from heart disease in a research published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2014 (“The Sweet Danger Of Sugar – Harvard Health”). People who consumed 17 percent to 21 percent of their calories from added sugar had a 38 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease throughout the 15-year trial.
Works Cited
Freeman, Clara R., et al. “Impact of Sugar on the Body, Brain, and Behavior.” Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark edition) 23 (2018): 2255-2266. Web.
“The Sweet Danger Of Sugar – Harvard Health“. Harvard Health, 2022. Web.