Sugar gets a bad reputation. And for a good reason. There are multiple unusual side effects of sugar. Added sugar can have multiple effects on the body, including its contribution to teeth decay, weight gain, heart disease, and yes, even cancer. But there is another side effect of sugar that nobody is talking about.
Natural vs. Artificial Sugar
The main difference between natural sugar and high fructose corn syrup is the balance of fructose and glucose in high-fructose corn syrup.
As the name suggests, there is more fructose in the syrup than in regular sugar. The difference, however, is that an apple contains fiber and other nutritious elements that outweigh its sugar content.
So how does an excess of sugar make one gain weight?
How It Works
When you ingest sugar, the liver metabolizes the fructose and converts it into fat. The spike in triglycerides also leads to a reduced amount of HDL cholesterol (or the ‘good’ kind of cholesterol).
What Too Much Sugar Can Do to You
Ingesting too much sugar hurts the metabolism and, over time, it weakens it. This causes metabolic dysfunction, meaning your insulin stops working properly. This is one major side effect that most people are unaware of.
This side effect can directly lead to obesity, heart disease, and type II diabetes. In addition, added sugar is especially addictive. So the more sugar you eat, the more likely you’ll become addicted and reliant on it.
The best way to cut back on your sugar intake is to be aware of what and how much you eat. A sugary treat every once in a while is normal. Overindulgence in anything is where it gets dangerous. So, overall eat those foods with high sugar in moderation and remember healthy eating may be easier than you think.