6 Reasons Why Too Much Sugar is Bad For You
While some sugar is certainly fine to eat in moderation, overeating sugar day in and day out can increase your risk of many health conditions — here are six health reasons to swap out your soda for seltzer.
1. Can Cause Weight Gain
Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda, sports drinks, sweet teas, and juice, are a leading cause of increased obesity rates worldwide. These drinks are loaded with fructose, a type of sugar that is linked to weight gain. It’s also very easy to rapidly consume hundreds of calories and dozens of grams of sugar when consuming these sweet drinks.
2. Can Cause Diabetes
Although there are many causes of diabetes, consuming excess sugar leads to chronically high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which can develop in type 2 diabetes.
3. Linked to Acne
Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates, including sweets, sugary drinks, and processed white flour products, is linked to a higher risk of developing acne. These foods can spike blood sugar and cause inflammation and oil secretion, which increase acne risk.
4. Linked to Depression
Sugary foods and refined carbohydrates are linked to an increased risk of mood disorders, including depression. This may be because sugar consumption can cause blood sugar swings, inflammation, and dysfunctioning brain chemicals, which have a negative effect on mental health.
5. Can Increase Signs of Aging
Excess sugar can accelerate signs of aging, both internally and externally. On the outside, too much sugar can age skin and cause wrinkles or lost elasticity. Internally, our cells, organs, and tissues can age faster from too much sugar.
6. Can Deplete Your Energy
If you’ve ever had too much sugar all at once, you know that it can boost your mood for a bit — followed by a rough drop in energy when your blood sugar crashes an hour or two later. If you constantly have low energy, take a look at your sugar intake and opt for foods high in lean protein, fiber, and healthy fat instead.
1. Can Cause Weight Gain
Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda, sports drinks, sweet teas, and juice, are a leading cause of increased obesity rates worldwide. These drinks are loaded with fructose, a type of sugar that is linked to weight gain. It’s also very easy to rapidly consume hundreds of calories and dozens of grams of sugar when consuming these sweet drinks.
2. Can Cause Diabetes
Although there are many causes of diabetes, consuming excess sugar leads to chronically high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which can develop in type 2 diabetes.
3. Linked to Acne
Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates, including sweets, sugary drinks, and processed white flour products, is linked to a higher risk of developing acne. These foods can spike blood sugar and cause inflammation and oil secretion, which increase acne risk.
4. Linked to Depression
Sugary foods and refined carbohydrates are linked to an increased risk of mood disorders, including depression. This may be because sugar consumption can cause blood sugar swings, inflammation, and dysfunctioning brain chemicals, which have a negative effect on mental health.
5. Can Increase Signs of Aging
Excess sugar can accelerate signs of aging, both internally and externally. On the outside, too much sugar can age skin and cause wrinkles or lost elasticity. Internally, our cells, organs, and tissues can age faster from too much sugar.
6. Can Deplete Your Energy
If you’ve ever had too much sugar all at once, you know that it can boost your mood for a bit — followed by a rough drop in energy when your blood sugar crashes an hour or two later. If you constantly have low energy, take a look at your sugar intake and opt for foods high in lean protein, fiber, and healthy fat instead.