They come in various forms and are derived from different sources. The two types of sugars we have and their sources include;
1. Simple Sugars: They are known biologically as monosaccharides. They include glucose sometimes called dextrose, fructose, and galactose.
2.Compound Sugars: They are called disaccharides and they include lactose, maltose, and sucrose. Sucrose is the 'table sugar' or 'granulated sugar' which we use in and as food.
I am going to share with you four subtle effects which comes from the intake of Sucrose(table sugar).
The rate at which sugar is consumed in the world is clinching an outrageous figure. The United States of America, for example, had its average sugar consumption at six (6) tablespoons per day as at the mid-1980s. It rose to sixteen (16) tablespoons per day in the mid-1990s, Today, an average American consumes nothing less than One hundred and fifty (150) pounds of sugar each year.
A bottle of Coke, Pepsi or soft drink contains about ten (10) teaspoons of sugar. An average Nigerian consumes at least five (5) bottles in a week, a whooping fifty (50) in a week.
Most times we are conscious of adding table sugar to our food yet we often neglect other sources of sugar.
A little sugar, yes, would not hurt but there are subtle effects sugar has on our bodies and here are four of such.
1. DIABETES
It is not a new thing that sugar is linked with diabetes. Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) refers to a group of metabollic diseases in which a person accumulates a high level of blood glucose that is blood sugar.
Diabetes is caused either as a result of an inadequacy of insulin production, or because the body cells fail to respond properly to insulin, or both.
Persons infected with diabetes experience frequent urination (polyruria), increasing thirst (polydipsia), and hunger (polyphagia).
Diabetes is a longterm ailment which can be controlled. If diabetes is not controlled properly, it results to;
- Eye complications such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retionpathy.
- Foot complications such as neuropathy, gangrene which may cause amputation of the foot.
- Skin complications such as skin infections and skin disorders
- Ischemic heart disease
- Hypertension
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hearing loss
- Gum Infection
- Gastroparesis (a condition of the inability of the stomach muscles from functioning properly)
- Ketoacidosis (a combination of ketone bodies and acidity in the blood)
- Neuropathy (nerve damage)
- Nephropathy (uncontrolled blood pressure leading to kidney disease)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Slow healing of wounds
2.OBESITY
Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems. It is very common in Nigeria as over 1.5 million cases are reported in the west African country every year. Sugar is a major cause of obesity.
Obesity inceases the likelihood of various diseases and conditions particularly cardiovascular (heart) disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain forms of cancer, depression, and osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a type of joint disease which results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.
3. OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissues which leads to an increaded risk of fracture.
It is referred to as the "silent thief" by medical practitioners because osteoporosis can occur for a number of years without any symptoms. Unfortunately, by the time the affected bones gets broken or fractured, the disease has advanced to a fairly harmful state and has become less treatable.
4. ADDICTION
Just as the intake of alcohol and tobacco has generated millions of addict. It is the same with sugar intake. It causes a high level of addiction.
It starts off at an unnoticeable rate. From adding a little sugar to your food to eating sugar-coated biscuits and food to chocolates to consumption of bottles of soft drinks. It is a gradual process until the craving becomes uncontrollable.
As much as possible we must understand that with the advantages of sugar comes heavy and severe disadvantages resulting in adverse health conditions.
Stay off sugar for a healthy life.
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