How Sugar Can Affect Our Lives

Shared Ingredients: Cupcakes and Cookies

What is something that cupcakes and cookies share? Maybe it’s what’s inside. Both of these foods carry something. Something that is displayed everywhere. Perhaps it’s an ingredient that is overused in our food. If you assumed it was sugar, then you’re correct. The sweet indulgence, a substance that humans around the world are addicted to.

How Sugar Can Affect Our Lives

Americans are known to have the strongest sweet tooth, consuming around 170 grams of sugar annually (Smith, 2020). Why is it so damaging? Why do we have the urge to intake so much sugar if we know it’s harmful to our bodies? It is important to gain knowledge of the dangers that sugar can pose to your health.

I’m sure the majority is aware of how unhealthy sugar is, but I’m sure you don’t know the reason. I found some evidence explaining why. Firstly, let’s start off with the statistics: the most a developed woman should be consuming is 25 grams. The amount for a developed man should be 37.5 grams (Johnson et al., 2009). One can of Root beer carries 43 grams of sugar. This implies that if either a man or woman drinks a can of Root beer, they will have already ingested their amount of sugar for the day.

You’re probably thinking, what happens inside a body when a lot of sugar has been consumed? Well, first, the blood sugar rises really high. This allows dopamine to enter the brain, then blood sugar levels will fall rapidly. Insulin levels increase. Afterward, the body starts to miss the dopamine. Abruptly, the body is asking for more sugar to fill up its satisfaction. This cycle can lead to addiction-like behaviors, making it even more challenging to cut sugar from our diets.

Now that we are informed that processed sugar isn’t beneficial to our health and bodies, the real question is why do we put ourselves through a constant cycle of producing and consuming sugar?

The Historical Context of Sugar Consumption

The reason is because back in ancient times during the cavemen era, taste was an amusement. It helped to show if food was safe to eat. Sweet food was considered pleasant. You’re probably questioning why sugar back then was not as bad as it is today? If you think about it, processed sugar didn’t even exist in the past. Their sugar supply was found in fruit, which was natural and a much healthier alternative to what we have today.

Just as in the past and today’s era, we all have a love for sugar. Furthermore, the excess sugar we have can cause problems with our weight. Obesity can lead to other life-threatening diseases such as diabetes. Studies have shown that reducing sugar intake can significantly lower the risk of these diseases (Lustig, 2012). What you read was advice on how sugar can affect our lives. The real decision is up to you on how you will change for a better and healthier version for yourself and for your future.

References:

• Johnson, R. K., Appel, L. J., Brands, M., Howard, B. V., Lefevre, M., Lustig, R. H., ... & Sacks, F. (2009). Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 120(11), 1011-1020.
• Lustig, R. H. (2012). Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease. Penguin Group.
• Smith, J. (2020). The impact of sugar consumption on public health in the United States. Journal of Health and Nutrition, 45(2), 123-134.