SUGAR
Sugar, a simple
carbohydrate found naturally in many foods, plays a significant role in human
energy metabolism. However, excessive consumption of added sugars, that is, those
inserted during food processing—has substantial and often detrimental effects
on the human body.
When we eat sugar, it quickly raises the
amount of sugar in our blood, which makes the pancreas release insulin (a
hormone that helps move sugar into our cells to give us energy). Eating some sugar is fine and helps
the body work, but eating too much for a long time can cause problems with how
our body uses energy and lead to health issues.
EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE SUGAR INTAKE
One big
problem with eating too much sugar like drinking a lot of soda or eating lots
of candy—is how it affects your liver. Most added sugar contains something
called fructose, which your liver turns into fat. When you eat a lot of sugar,
too much fat builds up in your liver. This can cause a condition called fatty
liver disease. If it gets worse, it can lead to liver damage and scarring, and
in severe cases, liver failure that might need a transplant. Having too much
fat in your liver also makes it harder for your body to control blood sugar,
which can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Eating too
much sugar is strongly linked to weight gain and obesity. Drinks like soda are
a big problem because they’re full of liquid sugar and don’t make you feel full
the way solid food does. This means you end up drinking extra calories without
realizing it. Sugar, especially fructose, can also affect hormones that control
hunger, making it easier to overeat. Over time, a high-sugar diet leads to fat
buildup, including dangerous belly fat that increases the risk of heart disease
and other health problems.
Eating
too much sugar can hurt more than just your teeth—it affects your whole body.
High sugar intake can damage your heart by making your arteries (the tubes that
carry blood) stiff and inflamed, which raises blood pressure. This makes it
easier to develop heart disease, have a heart attack, or even a stroke. People
who get more than 17% of their daily calories from added sugar have a much
higher risk of dying from heart problems compared to those who eat less sugar.
Too much sugar also raises unhealthy blood fats called triglycerides, making
heart problems even worse.
Your
pancreas (the organ that makes insulin) also struggles when you eat a lot of
sugar. At first, it makes extra insulin to control blood sugar, but over time,
this wears it out. Then your body stops responding to insulin properly, leading
to type 2 diabetes.
Sugar
can damage your kidneys too, especially if you have diabetes, because high
blood sugar harms the kidneys’ filters. In serious cases, this can lead to
kidney failure.
Your
brain isn’t safe either. Eating too much sugar can affect your memory, mood, and
focus. Over time, it may raise your risk of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Sugar causes inflammation and stress in your brain, which damages cells that
help you think clearly.
On top of all that, sugar causes energy
spikes and crashes. That means you might feel hyper for a bit, then tired,
cranky, and unfocused later.
The bottom line: Your body needs some sugar
for energy, but too much—especially from sodas, candy, and processed foods—can
harm your heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and brain. The best way to stay
healthy is to cut back on added sugars, drink less soda, and eat more natural
foods like fruits and whole grains.
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