How dangerous is sugar?

Veröffentlicht am: August 01, 2024
Sarah Allen
Sarah Allen

Nutritionist and dietician

Not as sweet as it seems? Why sugar is so dangerous!

Let's be clear: the new recommendations do not demonize natural sugars found in various foods such as fruit or milk. Natural sugar is broken down by our bodies and converted into energy that we specifically need. The recommendations target the overconsumption of added sugars, sugars that are not normally present in foods and are added later. The usual suspects are clear: soda, candy, ice cream.

But there are also added sugars in foods where we don't expect them: in bread, in condiments such as ketchup or barbecue sauce, yoghurt in various flavors, fruit juices and even in pasta sauces from the jar.

If you add up all these hidden sugar bombs in our diet, they add up to a huge amount of sugar.

A look at history shows that this has not always been the case. Some time ago, in 1822, the average American consumed 45 grams of sugar every five days. This amount is contained in a 330 ml can of lemonade. Today, it's 765 grams of sugar every day. Our preference for processed, low-fat foods means we're consuming more sugar than ever before. And this is having a bigger impact than ever before.

 


At the end of the year, the average person manages to consume 40 kilograms of pure sugar! That puts us at around 37 sugar cubes per day (approx. 111 g of sugar)!


 

Children, for example, consume an average of 32 teaspoons of sugar a day. All this sugar naturally has an impact on our health. A sharp rise in type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are all attributed to too much sugar in our diet.

In fact, sugar consumption is the cause of a whole range of diseases and health complaints:

  • Sugar can be addictive and sugar addiction symptoms occur: We will go into this in more detail later on.
  • Excessive consumption of sugar can cause diseases of the cardiovascular system.
  • The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is significantly increased.
  • Increased sugar consumption can cause a decline in cognitive brain function
  • Sugar promotes obesity
  • Sugar can influence cancer cell production
  • Another negative factor is that sugar generally does not provide any nutrients. This is referred to as "empty calories", i.e. calories that do not provide our body with essential vitamins, minerals or trace elements.

Too much sugar is not healthy and can lead to weight gain. But even people with a healthy body weight can have sugar-related chaos in their bodies.

A study observed test subjects over a period of 15 years. Those who got 25 percent or more of their calorie intake from sugar had a two-fold higher risk of dying from heart disease than those who got less than 10 percent of their calories from sugar. All in all, the risk of dying from heart disease increased with sugar consumption, regardless of the person's age, gender, physical activity level or BMI.

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Sugar - a drug?

Sugar is not a drug, you're probably thinking - how can we talk about addiction? No, sugar is not officially considered a drug, but our brain still reacts to sugar in a similar way to cocaine!

However, various studies have shown that sugar can be, if not addictive, at least addictive. A region in the front part of our brain called the nucleus accumbens is responsible for this. This is where receptors for the neurotransmitter dopamine are located, which is responsible for the drive, the expectation of a feeling of happiness. In theory, a lack of dopamine causes symptoms such as listlessness, depression and listlessness. We then automatically reach for a familiar, easy-to-obtain "drug": chocolate, cola or other sugary foods provide us with short-term moments of happiness in such phases - do you know that? This has to do with the fact that our brain releases the neurotransmitter serotonin when we eat sugar, which makes us believe that we have achieved a goal, that we have been successful. Sugar is therefore a kind of intoxicant that makes us believe that we have been ambitious. We are also familiar with this connection from drugs - alcohol, cocaine and cigarettes have the same short-term effect. Sugar intake increases both dopamine and serotonin levels. Sugar can be addictive. 

Why do we eat too much sugar?

The oversupply of sugar and sugary foods, as we know it today from the supermarket, petrol station, kiosk and bakery (in short: temptation lurks on every corner!), does the rest. It is easier to get hold of food with sugar than vegetables. That was different some time ago. It is part of our history that we eat everything on the table and (over)eat sweets - because there wasn't always as much of them as there is today. However, humans needed carbohydrates in order to find the energy they needed to perform. This evolutionary appetite is due to the hormone ghrelin. Ghrelin triggers cravings and appetite. However, our bodies have not yet understood that we no longer have to suffer from hunger in the western world and in this day and age. 

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How does too much sugar harm your health?

  • Diabetes
  • Heart diseases
  • Fatty liver
  • Digestive disorders
  • Cancer

Sugar addiction becomes diabetes

If uncontrolled sugar consumption becomes a habit, the body's own insulin is no longer sufficient in the long term to bring blood sugar levels back to normal. This is how type 2 diabetes develops. The hormone insulin is produced in the pancreas and regulates the energy supply to the cells by ensuring that glucose is absorbed from the blood into the cells. In people with type 2 diabetes, insulin is still produced, but too little than is needed or it is not effective enough. The blood glucose can therefore no longer or only partially enter the body cells. As a result, the concentration of sugar in the blood continues to rise without it being used by the cells as an energy source. Obesity and lack of exercise promote the development of type 2 diabetes.

A study conducted in 2013 and published in the journal PLOS ONE concluded that the risk of developing type II diabetes increased by 1.1 percent for every 150-calorie serving of sugar per day (roughly the amount contained in a can of soda). The increased risk persisted even after the scientists adjusted other dietary factors (including meat, oils, cereals, high-fiber foods, fats).

The scientists were also able to confirm the effect of sugar on diabetes, regardless of physical inactivity and regular alcohol consumption.

Sugar addiction as a trigger for heart disease

Most people blame fat in food for the development of heart disease. And indeed, industrial saturated fats (such as trans fats) do cause heart attacks. Yet sugar is the real culprit. In 2016, scientists brought a huge sugar industry scandal to light by revealing that the sugar lobby paid for falsified research from Harvard University in the 1960s. The scientists were told not to focus on the effects of sugar on health, but instead on the supposed role of natural fats in the development of heart disease.

This flawed "study" concluded that "without a doubt" the only necessary measure to prevent coronary heart disease is to eat less cholesterol. Instead, it is better to consume polyunsaturated fats - rather than saturated fats.

Now we know that this is not true. In 2014, researchers were able to scientifically prove that consuming too much added sugar can lead to a significantly increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. In fact, people who consume 17 to 21 percent of their calories from added sugar have a 38 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease - compared to those who consume only eight percent of their calories from sugar. The relative risk is twice as high for those who consume 21 percent or more of their calories from added sugar.

Sugar addiction can lead to the development of a fatty liver

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise in the USA. And what do you think is causing it? Sugar! High sugar corn syrup is hiding in many beverages and processed foods and is already being called a "weapon of mass destruction". Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease occurs when fat accumulates in the liver. According to a study by the University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital in Australia, 17 to 33 percent of all Americans suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The growing percentage matches the prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. And many Americans suffering from these diseases show no symptoms at all.

Scientists at Tuft University found that people who consume one sugar-sweetened beverage a day have a higher risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than those who abstain from these drinks.

Interestingly, the microbiome is also involved. It serves as an interface between diet and liver and alters the dietary effect. Scientists have been actively investigating the role of our gut in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. What is known? A drastic reduction of added sugars in the diet appears to reduce the disease to some extent.

Sugar addiction can lead to leaky gut syndrome and other digestive disorders

Is sugar bad? And especially for the gut? You bet it is. It is now known that the microorganisms in the gut behave in a similar way to a metabolic organ. Scientists now assume that sugar influences the microbial flora in the intestine in such a way that it increases the permeability of the intestinal mucosa and leads to the development of leaky gut syndrome.

This means that sugar triggers low-level chronic inflammation, which releases substances from the gut into the bloodstream. This can lead to obesity and other chronic metabolic diseases.

The key to effective treatment of leaky gut syndrome lies in reducing the intake of added sugars. Sugar feeds yeast cells and bad bacteria, which damage the intestinal walls and make them leaky (leaky gut syndrome).

Sugar addiction as a trigger for various cancers

Does sugar consumption affect your risk of developing cancer? When the National Institutes of Health wanted to investigate the effects of sugar on 24 different types of cancer, they found hardly any relevant studies, even though they were sorely needed. However, they did find some links between different types of sugar and certain cancers.

For example, added sugar in food increases the risk of oesophageal cancer. Added fructose apparently leads to an increased risk of cancer of the small intestine.

Other research indicates a link between colon cancer and an increased intake of added sugars. The increased risk persisted even after the scientists adjusted for other risk factors such as overweight, obesity or diabetes.

Sugar may also be responsible for an increased risk of breast cancer and metastasis to the lungs. The MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas published a study in 2016 in which researchers concluded that high sugar intake - as is common in the Western world - affects an enzymatic signaling pathway known as 12-LOX (12-lipoxygenase) in such a way that there is an increased risk of breast cancer.

Previous epidemiological studies have shown that dietary sugar has an influence on the development of breast cancer. This leads to inflammation, which is thought to play a role.

But is there no such thing as "good" sugar?

To make a long story short: Sugar is sugar - no matter in what form. Even if the media and food companies want us to believe that agave syrup, honey, fructose and the like are healthier, this is simply wrong. Because: every form has a strong effect on blood sugar levels! Any sugar is bad in excess. 

From a chemical point of view, there is also no difference between the different types of sugar. Even if there are minor positive benefits (e.g. enzymes in honey) - these can never compensate for the disadvantages of excessive sugar consumption!

Can't I just give up sugar?

Avoiding sugar is almost impossible these days. It is found almost everywhere - even in foods that we would not expect to contain sugar at first glance, such as canned food, sausage, cheese, bread, sauces, dairy products and more.

In addition, the term sugar is very well disguised by the industry to make it harder for us to recognize it as such, like fructose, honey or glucose syrup.

Can I simply replace sugar?

It depends. Natural sugar yes - in moderation, of course.

On the other hand, you should avoid artificial sugar substitutes. These have been criticized for some time as they have been linked to diseases and possibly even cancer. So don't take any risks and only use natural sweeteners.

Give up sugar: What natural alternatives are there?

There are now a number of sweet sugar alternatives that are considered "healthy" or are advertised as such. Some of them are actually alternatives, others less so. Let's take a closer look at the most popular alternatives:

  • Rice syrup

Rice syrup is probably one of the best sugar alternatives currently available on the market. As there is no fructose in the syrup made from rice and water and the blood sugar level only rises very slowly, this variant is suitable for people with a fructose intolerance as well as diabetics. Rice syrup is about half as sweet as sugar and tastes nutty to malty. When buying rice syrup, make sure that it does not contain any added sugar!

  • Honey

First of all: honey is a raw animal product and is not suitable for children under the age of one. Uncooked, the alternative contains many minerals and vitamins, which at least ensure that the calories are not empty. It is important to note that this only applies to raw honey. As soon as honey has been pasteurized, it has lost many of its health-promoting properties. However, honey is still high in calories and no less carcinogenic than sugar. One tablespoon of raw honey contains 64 calories and has a lower glycemic impact than a single banana. If you want it to be sweet, honey is always preferable to white household sugar. Otherwise, honey should only be consumed in moderation.

  • Coconut blossom sugar

Although coconut blossom sugar or its liquid variant coconut blossom syrup does not have the same sweetening power as sugar, it is currently on everyone's lips due to its positive properties. More and more people are using coconut blossom sugar as a natural sweetener. It has a low glycemic load and contains lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber. In addition, it does not cause blood sugar levels to rise as quickly and sharply as household sugar and is therefore a good alternative.

  • Maple syrup

High-quality maple syrup is a good, if not quite as sweet, alternative to table sugar. Opt for the darker variety - Grade B maple syrup - as it has more of the nutritional benefits of maple syrup. It consists of 67% sucrose, fructose and glucose and provides minerals such as iron, magnesium potassium and zinc. This natural sweetener is rich in antioxidants, helps neutralize free radicals and reduces oxidative damage

  • Erythritol

A sugar substitute that tastes very similar to sugar but has hardly any calories. Advantage: Erythritol is very well tolerated.

  • Maltitol

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol. Maltitol is not as sweet as sugar and contains significantly fewer carbohydrates.

  • Thaumatin

The sweetener is obtained from the West African catemafruit and is a natural protein. Its sweetening power is 2,000-3,000 times higher than that of sugar, which is why its energy content is negligible. Thaumatin has a slightly licorice-like aftertaste.

  • Dates

Dates contain a lot of potassium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium and vitamin B6. The fruits of the date palm are easy to digest and support the conversion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Studies have shown that dates help to reduce LDL cholesterol in the blood and also reduce the risk of strokes.

  • Sugar cane molasses

Molasses is a mineral-rich, sweet syrup made from boiled raw cane sugar. High-quality molasses is bottled after the third boiling. The nutrients are then present in concentrated form and the molasses has its characteristic taste.

  • Balsamic ice cream

Balsamic vinegar contains numerous antioxidants that destroy free radicals. It has a high proportion of the enzyme pepsin, which promotes healthy digestion. Balsamic vinegar also tastes great. This is why it is on the list of healing foods.

  • Banana puree

Bananas contain a lot of fiber and also plenty of potassium, vitamin B6 and C. They have a natural sweetness with a delicate aroma and are an excellent alternative to sugar.

  • Real fruit jam

The emphasis is on real fruit jam. Replace sugar in recipes with berries, stone fruit, apples, pears or grapes. You can also use commercially available fruit jam. Just make sure that no sugar or pectin has been added. It is best to make your own sugar-free jam from organic fruit or frozen fruit. It's very easy and also saves money.

  • Xylitol

Birch sugar is another name for xylitol, which is attracting more and more attention. One advantage of this is that the substitute sugar is just as sweet as real sugar, but the calorie content is reduced by 40 percent. Although there are no health concerns about the use of birch sugar, this sweetener can also have a laxative effect if consumed in excessive quantities.

  • Stevia

Like aspartame, stevia has practically no calories and no effect on blood sugar. This sweet variant is obtained from the stevia plant. This sweetener is therefore a natural product, but its edible form is obtained through a chemical process. Stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is a good alternative to sugar, which you can use to reduce your sugar cravings, especially in the short term. However, it should only be consumed in moderation.

But watch out! Not all stevia products are the same. Therefore, there may also be variations in stevia side effects.

The three main types of stevia are:

  1. Green stevia - This is the least processed form and is therefore the best option. Basically, the leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder. This form tastes sweet, slightly bitter and is not as effective as other stevia products. It is about 30 to 40 times sweeter than sugar.
  2. Stevia extracts - Some brands extract the sweeter and bitter parts of stevia leaves (rebaudiosode). These do not have the same health effects as steviosides. Nevertheless, they are probably better than other sweeteners. Unfortunately, only a few studies have looked at their effects on the body. Stevia extracts are about 200 times sweeter than sugar.
  3. Modified Stevia and Truvia - This form is not actually Stevia at all. It is best to refrain from using it. The problem with this form lies in the processing and various additives.

So it can't be said often enough: not all stevia products go through the same manufacturing process. There is a HUGE difference between real Stevia and chemically produced Truvia.

  • Agave syrup

Agave syrup is often sold in organic food stores and therefore gives the impression that it is a healthy alternative to sugar. However, the high fructose content can lead to obesity, bloating, abdominal pain and diabetes. Therefore, sweetening with agave syrup is strongly discouraged.

  • Brown sugar

Brown sugar contains white granulated sugar and is caramelized. Even if it looks healthier due to its "natural" color, this is more illusion than reality! Brown sugar contains neither nutrients nor vitamins, but just as many calories as normal household sugar.

How can I recognize and avoid sugar in food? 

  • Familiarize yourself with the units of measurement and read the information on the packaging

Nutritional tables on products always have a line for the amount of sugar they contain. However, it is not easy to recognize when a product contains too much sugar. Instead, remember that four calories from sugar equals one gram. In turn, four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon. Your goal should be to consume less than 36 grams of sugar or nine teaspoons a day.

Many fruit yogurts, for example, contain 17 grams of sugar. This means that 68 of the 133 calories they contain come from sugar. So the nutritional value of the yogurt is a big letdown. When you eat it, you are consuming just over four teaspoons of sugar. Similarly, a scoop of blueberry ice cream from Starbucks contains 20 grams of sugar, or five teaspoons of added sugar, or 80 calories.

  • Pay attention to different designations and synonyms

What's in a name? A lot when it comes to sugar. It's easy to find "sugar" in the list of ingredients. But food companies are clever. They simply list sugar under different names so that it is not so easy to spot.

Sugar has many faces - and many names. It is almost impossible to know what percentage of the total sugar content comes from natural sources or has been added. In order to recognize hidden sugars in food, it is important that you know (or at least have read) the most common variations of the addictive substance. Syrup, dextrose, malt or maltitol, fructose or often the word ending -ose indicate that sugar can be found in the list of ingredients. Also, don't be misled by natural-sounding names. Sweeteners such as sugar cane juice, rice syrup and molasses are all types of sugar. Here is an overview, which is by no means exhaustive, but merely serves as an illustration: 

  • Whey powder
  • Beet juice
  • Sorbitol
  • Barley malt
  • Maltose
  • Maple syrup
  • Invert sugar
  • Lactose
  • Lactose
  • Caramel syrup
  • Sorbitol (E 420)
  • Beet sugar
  • Turnip tops
  • Fruit sugar (fructose)
  • Raffinade
  • Sucrose
  • Birch sugar (E 967)
  • Thaumatin (E 957)
  • Whole cane sugar (brown sugar)
  • Birch syrup
  • Malt sugar
  • Malt syrup
  • Honey
  • Skimmed milk powder
  • Fruit syrups
  • Sucralose (E 955)
  • Corn syrup
  • Cornstarch syrup
  • Dextrose
  • Nectar
  • Glucose syrup
  • E966
  • Apple syrup

Also check where these types of sugar appear in the list of ingredients. The earlier an ingredient is mentioned, the more of it there is in the product.

  • Use processed foods sparingly in your diet

The fact that foods such as cola, syrup, chocolate and ice cream contain sugar is something we probably don't need to talk about. Much more controversial are the hidden sugars in our food. Did you know that pickles, ketchup, supposedly "wholesome" muesli bars, herring salad and yoghurt dressing all contain sugar? And these are just a few of the many foods that the industry adds sugar to. Fruit juices and nectars sometimes contain more sugar than Coca-Cola and cornflakes, canned fruit and ready meals can be considered real sugar bombs.

You probably already don't use pre-packaged cookies or sweets from well-known manufacturers. But that pesky sugar is simply everywhere, including in many processed foods. Instead of buying pasta sauce in a jar, cook it yourself in large quantities on a free weekend. Freeze it in portions and you can use it at any time. Maybe you don't have time to bake bread yourself. In this case, read the ingredients list carefully and opt for bread without added sugar. Alternatively, you can buy your bread from a bakery. There you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the ingredients.

By the way! A common rumor that leads to a fatal misunderstanding in the context of sugar addiction: Organic products contain no sugar. This is wrong! Foods bearing the organic label contain ingredients/raw materials that are organically grown. Sugar can also be grown and produced according to organic standards, but this does not make it a healthy ingredient, only a pollutant-free (or reduced) ingredient.

  • Avoid sugary alternatives to real food

Of course juice tastes good. But do you know what tastes just as good? The actual fruit. Don't waste empty calories on sweetened versions of a real food.

And if you like to reach for low-fat products, be careful. Reduced-fat products have their pitfalls, especially when it comes to sugar content. Manufacturers remove naturally occurring fats from products such as milk or cheese, and with them a lot of flavor. So they add sugar to compensate for lost flavor. There is a reason why foods contain natural fats. Trust them!

It's not easy to give up sugar. It has a greater addictive potential than cocaine. But you can wean your body and your taste buds off it. It will certainly not be easy for you to limit your sugar consumption for the first few days. You will experience withdrawal symptoms and a strong craving for sugar. But you will soon be enjoying a naturally sweet life.