Sugar Crush

It does provide energy — about 20 calories per tea spoon — but offers none of the nutrition that the body needs. As a result,sugar addicts begin to suffer from hidden hunger. Though they eat food in enough quantity,their bodies become deficient in essential nutrients,which can lead to serious health disorders over a long period of time. In the US,health conditions triggered by excessive consumption of sugar have been linked to 35 million deaths every year.

As a result,international scientists are now demanding that sugar be regulated in the same way as tobacco and alcohol. They say that sugar is actually as toxic to liver as alcohol. Medicos explain that consuming a diet rich in white sugar and other refined carbohydrates forces the body to increase the production of insulin. Eventually,the body cells,receiving too much insulin daily to absorb the extra carbohydrates,develop insulin resistance. With this,blood sugar levels shoot up in the body. Chronically high blood sugar levels put an enormous strain on the vascular system and damage the lining of arteries,making them thick and hard.

Experts say that while it is inadvisable to avoid sugar totally,its consumption should be kept below the threshold where it turns toxic for our bodies. The National Institute of Nutrition,Hyderabad,recommends a sugar intake of not more than 20 to 25 grams per day for normal adults. To achieve this,one needs to avoid processed foods rich in sugar like soft drinks,sugary beverages like coffee and excessive over-the-table use of sugar,particularly during the festive season when high-sugar products do the rounds in plenty. “Sugar is addictive and tastes great. It can be a good emotional pacifier during stress. Many people skip sugar in their tea or coffee but land up consuming excessive amounts than they realize because it is so well disguised but concentrated in processed foods and drinks and endup harming their health over the long term,” Desai adds.