Effects of Sugar on Human Health
Blood Sugar Level
Does eating too much sugar affect blood sugar levels?
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can be detrimental for those with diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, if a fasting blood sugar test is higher than 126 mg/dL, it is indicative of diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test is also used to diagnose diabetes, where the patient drinks a sugary solution and the doctor tests their blood sugar levels after 8 hours. It is important to maintain healthy sugar levels to prevent serious health complications.
Can high blood sugar cause health problems?
High blood sugar can lead to long-term health problems, and symptoms such as fatigue, thirst, and blurry vision can occur. As reported by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), if you get sick, your blood sugar can be hard to manage. Changes in diet due to illness can further affect blood sugar levels.
What are the effects of low blood sugar?
Low blood sugar has a wide range of effects on the body, including sleep disturbances, lack of coordination, chills, clammy skin, and sweating. Cited on Healthline (2018), these effects can be caused by drops in blood sugar during the night. It is also important to note that low blood sugar can cause fatigue and irritability due to the body's lack of energy.
Weight
Can eating too much sugar have health risks?
Eating too much sugar can have serious long-term health effects, such as increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to Medical News Today (2020). In the short-term, it may also lead to acne, weight gain, and tiredness. The World Health Organization recommends limiting your daily sugar intake to less than 10% of your total energy needs.
How does consuming too much sugar affect the heart?
Eating or drinking too much sugar can have a negative effect on your heart, as the extra insulin in your bloodstream can cause the walls of your arteries to become inflamed and thicker than normal. According to WebMD, research has found that added sugar increases your risk of dying from heart disease. Studies have shown that those who consume more than 25% of their daily calories from added sugar have a significantly higher risk of dying from heart disease than those who consume less than 10%.
Consuming too much sugar can lead to various health problems, such as weight gain, diabetes and tooth cavities, according to Medical News Today on medicalnewstoday.com (2019). Added sugars are found in many processed foods and drinks, so it is important to limit intake. The World Health Organization recommends keeping daily intake of added sugars below 10% of total calories.
Metabolic Function
What impact can excessive sugar consumption have on health?
Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory diseases due to its negative impact on the body, brain, and behavior. According to a review published in PubMed in 2018, sugar can lead to addictive behaviors and poor health outcomes. Research has found that sugar intake is directly related to inflammation, which can impact the body's immune system.
What are carbohydrates essential for?
Carbohydrates are essential macronutrients in the human diet, providing energy and aiding in the absorption of other nutrients. Sourced from StatPearls from the NCBI Bookshelf, carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and are essential for proper bodily function. Carbohydrates are essential for the absorption of other nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
What is glucose?
Glucose is an essential fuel source for the body, providing energy to every cell to perform metabolic functions. According to livestrong, it is a simple sugar that serves as a primary source of energy production. Glucose can also be used to store energy for later use in the form of glycogen.
Energy Levels
How does sugar affect energy levels?
Sugar can affect energy levels by providing cells with glucose, which is used as energy fuel. When the body absorbs glucose from foods, the pancreas releases insulin, signaling cells to absorb the glucose. As stated by livestrong.com, this helps to fuel cells throughout the body and provide energy. Eating a balanced diet that includes healthy sources of carbohydrates can help ensure that you get the energy you need.
What is the role of insulin in managing blood sugar levels?
Glucose is a sugar that is used by muscle, fat and other cells as a source of energy or stored as fat for later use. When we eat, the pancreas releases insulin to manage the rising blood sugar levels, according to Healthline in 2021. Glucose is also used in the body's metabolic pathways to help generate energy.
What is the chemical formula for glucose?
Glucose is an essential source of energy for every organism and is necessary to fuel both aerobic and anaerobic cellular activity. Via NCBI Bookshelf, it is a 6-carbon structure with the chemical formula C6H12O6. Glucose is a ubiquitous source of energy for every organism in the world.
Oral Health
What causes dental caries?
Dental caries is a widespread public health concern and is the most common cause of tooth extraction due to its ability to demineralize the hard tissues of teeth. As mentioned in the World Health Organization (WHO), it is caused by bacterial metabolism of sugars which produces acid, leading to pain and infection. Poor oral hygiene can contribute to an increased risk of dental caries.
What is the potential danger of consuming too much added sugar?
People who consume high amounts of added sugar have a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consume less, according to a 15-year study from Harvard Health. This highlights the potential danger of consuming too much sugar in one's diet. Research shows that sugar can increase blood pressure, inflammation, and triglyceride levels, which can all contribute to heart disease.
What are the effects of sugar on teeth?
The effects of sugar on teeth can be destructive, leading to cavities and even tooth loss if left untreated. From Colgate®, bacterial infections can erode the enamel of teeth and create holes in the deeper layers of a tooth. To prevent these issues, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly.
Nutrient Deficiencies
What are added sugars?
Added sugars are the sugars and syrups added to foods during processing, mostly found in sodas, desserts, and energy and sports drinks. Mentioned in Mayo Clinic, all sugar, whether natural or processed, is a type of simple carbohydrate your body uses for energy. Fruits, vegetables and dairy foods naturally contain sugar.
What are the consequences of consuming too much sugar?
Eating too much sugar can lead to deficiencies in important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc. Cited on The Paleo Mom, this can have a negative impact on our skeletal health, blood coagulation, nerve signaling, and muscle contraction. Research has shown that diets high in added sugar can increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
What is the primary source of energy for the brain?
Glucose is the primary source of energy for the brain, consuming half of all sugar energy in the body. Harvard Medical School reported in its publication, Brain, that glucose is essential for neuronal function, and research has shown that a lack of glucose affects cognitive performance.
Diabetes Risk
Does Type 1 diabetes increase the risk of osteoporosis?
People with Type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) on heart.org, 2021. This is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle, making them more vulnerable to fractures. People with diabetes may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
Does sugar contribute to health risks?
Sugar is not solely responsible for health risks such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer, according to a report from BBC Future. Research suggests that other lifestyle factors play a role in these conditions, and that sugar may be used as a scapegoat for poor dietary habits. In addition, studies have shown that moderate sugar consumption can be beneficial to the body in some cases.
How does diabetes affect the body?
Diabetes can cause diabetic neuropathy, leading to a decreased perception of heat, cold, and pain and an increased susceptibility to injury. According to Healthline, 2020, diabetes can also have an effect on other parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and skin.
Cognitive Function
Does glucose and sucrose improve cognitive performance in healthy humans?
Glucose and sucrose have been found to improve cognitive performance in healthy humans compared to placebo, according to a review published in the journal WebJan in 2021 by an international team of researchers. This new research provides evidence that plasma glucose levels may affect cognitive performance. The findings suggest that consuming glucose and sucrose could be beneficial for overall cognitive health.
Can excessive sugar consumption lead to compulsive overeating?
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to compulsive overeating and subsequent adverse health conditions, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health in 2018. This is due to neuroadaptations in the reward system that decouple eating behavior from caloric needs. Sugar is known to be both highly palatable and rewarding.
Glucose has been proven to have a positive effect on cognitive functions such as attention, memory and learning, as studies show that administering glucose can improve these aspects. As stated by Eufic (2013), dips in glucose availability have a negative impact on mental performance. Research has shown that the brain uses up more glucose during moments of high mental activity.
Heart Health
How much sugar should adults consume daily?
Excessive added sugar consumption can have a range of detrimental health effects, according to the American Heart Association on Heart.org. The average adult gets about 17 teaspoons of sugar each day, which is nearly double the recommended limit for men and triple the limit for women. To maintain optimal health, it is important to make smart choices as part of an overall healthy eating pattern and reduce added sugars.
Does consuming added sugar increase the risk of CVD?
This report concludes that dietary sugar can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, increasing the risk of developing CVD. Cited on the Scottish Heart Health Study of 359 men and women, consuming added sugar was found to be linked to an increased risk of CVD. Research has shown that eating too much sugar can increase blood pressure and triglyceride levels, two major risk factors for developing CVD.
Does added sugar cause health issues?
Overall, evidence that added sugar directly causes major health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity or cancer is thin, according to a study by Professor Luc Tappy of the University of Lausanne published on BBC Future. Athletes, for example, often have higher sugar consumption but their risk of developing these illnesses is not increased. Research has also shown that regular consumption of small amounts of sugar can actually have a positive effect on mental health.
Organ Function
How can I prevent organ damage from diabetes?
Diabetes can have serious effects on major organs, including the heart, kidneys, brain, lungs, and pancreas, leading to many comorbidities when not well-controlled. Attributed to Verywell Health, it is important to keep diabetes under control to prevent organ damage. Studies have shown that diabetes can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to four times.
What role does insulin play in glucose regulation?
Glucose is a type of sugar that is used by the body for energy or stored as fat for later use, and is regulated by the release of insulin from the pancreas when food is consumed. An info from Healthline, when you eat, your body tells the pancreas to release insulin to manage the rising blood sugar level. Glucose can also be stored in muscles and fat cells.
What are the risks of consuming too much sugar?
Excessive consumption of sugar can cause inflammation of the walls of your arteries, leading to thickening and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. As stated by WebMD, when too much sugar is consumed it causes extra insulin in the bloodstream which affects arteries in the body. Research has shown that high levels of sugar intake have been associated with a greater risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Source:
- Webmd : Blood Sugar Levels, Glucose Levels, Your.
- Medicalnewstoday : too much sugar, symptoms.
- Nih : sugar, the body, brain, behavior.
- Livestrong : Sugar, Energy Levels.
- Who : Sugars, dental caries, World Health Organization.
