Sugar overload alert! Hidden dangers of added sugar during celebrations – Times of India

It starts with Halloween, then moves on to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Years! The

festive season

here and how. Apart from these, there is also Diwali to account for, which is a festival full of all things bright and fun. It is inevitable to eat delicious food and drink during this festive season. From IPAs to pumpkin-inspired drinks, from trick-or-treating to candies, one can’t avoid sugar usage around now. Besides, who doesn’t sometimes like to indulge in chocolate bars, candy corn, lollipops and other goodies! However, it is not healthy at all to eat all those sugary foods and drinks as they are rich. added sugar.

What foods and drinks are sources of sugar?

Party food is the Disneyland of added sugar. Sweets like Jalebi, Rasgullas, Halwa, Gulab jamun, Besan ladoo, Motichoor ladoo are mouth-stinging as they are harmful to your health if consumed in excess. Apart from these, drinks like sodas, fruit drinks, energy drinks and milkshakes also contain added sugar. Not only that but desserts, such as cupcakes, muffins, cakes, pies, ice cream, cakes and donuts, which are popular party foods – are full of added sugar. In fact, good breakfast foods, such as sweet cereals, jams, jellies, white bread, cinnamon raisins, honey nut bread, cereal dishes, cakes and pastries made with flavored syrups also have no added sugar.

Effects of added sugar:

Eating too much sugary food and drinks can have many negative effects, which can seriously affect a person’s health.
Weight gain and thickness: Added sugar provides calories without important nutrients, which can make it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits. Eating too much sugar can lower HDL (“good” cholesterol) and raise LDL (“bad” cholesterol). The same causes your body to store excess calories as triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides are a major risk factor for heart disease.
Tooth decay: Sugar is a primary food source for bacteria that cause tooth decay, cavities and other serious diseases. Excessive consumption of sweets, milk chocolate and milkshakes can cause serious dental problems.
Heart disease: Added sugar can contribute to heart disease. When a person eats or drinks too much sugar, their blood sugar level increases. This causes their bodies to release insulin, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. High blood sugar levels can also damage the arteries and veins in the heart. Excess insulin in your blood can cause the walls of your arteries to swell, thicken and harden. This can stress your heart and damage it over time. Eating less sugar can help lower blood pressure, another major risk factor for heart disease.

Type 2 diabetes: Added sugar can contribute to type 2 diabetes. When you eat too much sugar, your body may become resistant to insulin, or it may not produce enough insulin. This causes sugar to build up in your blood, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Fatty Liver: High fructose corn syrup and other concentrated candies can cause your liver to process sugar and fructose in a way that leads to fatty liver. Fatty liver is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Sexual health: Sugar can affect the circulatory system, which is responsible for blood flow throughout the body. This can affect the chain of events necessary for an erection. A diet high in sugar can cause insulin resistance, which can cause testosterone levels to drop in both men and women. This can lead to sexual performance problems such as erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire. Sugar can cause temporary spikes in blood sugar, which can lead to fatigue and reduced energy. This can also reduce levels of Orexin, a neurotransmitter that regulates feelings of arousal. In addition, sugar consumption can increase stress levels, which can reduce libido.
Other chemicals: Added sugar has been linked to some types of cancer. Since excessive consumption of sugar leads to weight gain, obesity can cause hormonal changes that increase the risk of cancer. Fat cells produce hormones that control inflammation, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer.