Excerpted From Ediets.com for entire article click here
By Lynn Prowitt-Smith
Special for Ediets.com
June 7, 2005
Sugar may be sweet, but consuming it has a sour effect on your overall health. Though the facts about sugar may be hard to swallow, it is important to learn why you need to make more nutritious choices. Sample these 10 reasons eating refined sugar can damage your health. Educate yourself about sugar and find out where hidden sugars lurk.
How could something so sweet leave such a bitter mark on your health? Learn why you should shun sugar and make more nutritious food choices.
1. Sugar causes blood glucose to spike and plummet.
2. Sugar increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
3. Sugar interferes with immune function.
4. A high-sugar diet often results in chromium deficiency.
5. Sugar accelerates aging.
6. Sugar causes tooth decay.
8. Sugar affects behavior and cognition in children.
9. Sugar increases stress.
10. Sugar takes the place of important nutrients.
Slashing Sugar
Now that you know the negative impacts refined sugar can have on your body and mind, you’ll want to be more careful about the foods you choose. And the first step is getting educated about where sugar lurks -- believe it or not, a food needn’t even taste all that sweet for it to be loaded with sugar. When it comes to convenience and packaged foods, let the ingredients label be your guide, and be aware that just because something boasts that it is low in carbs or a “diet” food, doesn’t mean it’s free of sugar. Atkins products never contain added sugar. For more information, read "Finding Hidden Sugars."
