Is Sugar Really That Bad For You?

It seems that throughout history there have been different opinions on what food items you should eat and what food items you should avoid. Currently there is much discussion on how sugar is bad for you, but as some experts point out, it really depends on what type of sugar is involved (https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/sugar-facts-scientific#1).

This is because many healthy foods also contain sugar in one form or another. For instance, fruits contain fructose and milk products contain lactose. These are also sugars, but fruit and milk also contain important nutrients that the body does need, so probably it is not a good idea to completely eliminate these items from your diet. Some nutrition experts suggest that sugar added to food may be more damaging to the health than naturally-occurring sugars, and certainly many confectionary items may contain excessively large amounts of high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar.

The high levels of obesity and illnesses such as type 2 diabetes in countries such as the United States does indicate that there is a problem with the eating habits of much of the general populace.

Excessive intake of sugar can cause you to gain weight and even become obese, particularly if you are not exercising. Another fact is that many people simply eat too much food, which means that they consume far more calories than they actually need or burn each day. Obesity rates have skyrocketed in many developed countries around the world, and often this is associated with people eating too much fast food to which extra sugar and fat has been added. The rising levels of obesity is a cause for concern  considering that obesity is linked to a host of illnesses from type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure and heart disease.

What can people do about sugar?

It is best to avoid taking in excessive amounts of added sugar that is often found in fast foods, sweetened breakfast cereals, baked goods, confectionaries and sodas. Increasing the amount of exercise you get is also a good idea since this can help to use up calories that you are taking in every day. While fruit is good for you, fruit juices can sometimes also be high in sugar as manufacturers may add even more sugar to their product. It is, therefore, a good idea to check food labels carefully when buying such items.

High fiber foods, vegetables, meat, fish, and whole grain carbohydrates can form a balanced diet for healthy people. However, if you have a medical condition you should check your diet with a medical doctor who can advise you best on what you should or should not be eating. Certainly diabetics and even people with heart disease often have to modify their diet even if it does seem balanced. Diabetics need to watch the glycemic index of foods and people with high blood pressure need to limit their salt intake.

What can you do about your weight?

If you are very overweight, depending on your general state of health and what weight you are, you may qualify for liposuction which can help to make you look slimmer. However, this should also be combined with a change in life style, or the problem will simply happen again.