What Makes Sugar Unhealthy?
Sugar has been discovered by scientists as one of the main causes of weight gain. Some scientists have found that sugar can stop the production of fat-burning hormones by inhibiting the hormone adiponectin, produced by fat cells. Unlike other hormones, adiponectin levels are far more influenced by diet than exercise. Because sugar is metabolized quickly it causes an increase in blood glucose levels which in turn raises insulin levels.
According to Jonathan Osler, sugars have been categorized into three main types: mono-sugars, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Osler states that fructose is an example of a mono-sugar, which is found in honey and fruit. Jonathan Osler also explains that many foods containing sugar are high in calories but low in nutrients. He has come to the conclusion that this creates food cravings because of its consistency with other addictive substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. It has been found that sugar is the “most dangerous culprit” in the American diet. He knows this because of the increasing number of individuals who are affected by obesity and diabetes in America each year. Osler explains that Americans consume an average of 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day which is equal to 10% of their daily caloric intake. Osler states that the only way to decrease sugar is to read labels and pay attention to ingredients used.
Based on these factors, it can be concluded that high fructose corn syrup, a type of sugar known to cause obesity and weight gain, also deserves a place in the list of other addictive substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. Today many Americans are aware of the negative effects that sugar has on their health; therefore more individuals are buying sweeteners such as molasses or honey to help limit intake of sugar. It was once stated that more than half of America’s adults were obese and two-thirds of them had Type 2 Diabetes, which was known as adult-onset diabetes. Scientists have since learned that this disease is not only affecting adults but also children. Junk food, fast food, and processed foods are some of the main culprits for weight gain in America because of the high amount of fat and sugar they contain. According to Osler, Americans tend to consume more fat and sugar rather than fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In addition to the negative effects of processed foods containing high levels of sugar, it also contains harmful ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup that is used in many meals at America’s restaurants.
This negative correlation between obesity or weight gain and sugary drinks is due to their high caloric intake and bad nutritional value.
It is extremely rare to find a can of soda with real sugar in them because most sodas use high fructose corn syrup as the main sweetener. According to Jonathan Osler, many researchers have discovered that America’s increase in obesity is directly related to the number of sugary drinks Americans consume each day. Osler has concluded that many individuals are unaware of the type of sugar they are ingesting because unhealthy drinks such as sodas use high fructose corn.