Long Term Effects of Sugars Aren’t Sweet

April 25, 2016

by Mankato Clinic

For a lot of us, reaching for a piece of chocolate or grabbing a sugary drink is second nature, but with sugar-related disorders on the rise, now is the perfect time to learn how to decrease your sugar intake.

From diabetes and heart disease to even certain types of cancers, the rise of some chronic diseases has been linked to higher sugar consumption. According to the American Heart Association, women should consume no more than 100 calories (six teaspoons) a day from added sugar, while men should consume no more than 150 calories (9 teaspoons) a day from added sugar.

Our body needs sugar as an essential nutrient to promote energy; however, most people are unaware of just how much they are taking in throughout the day and often in a form that doesn’t provide added nutritional benefits such as fiber or vitamins and minerals. Cutting out processed foods, especially sodas, fruit juice, chocolate milk and other sugary drinks is an excellent first step towards reducing your sugar intake

So, just what do we do when nearly everything we eat has some form of sugar? Start by cutting down on processed and packaged foods, which have a tendency to add in hidden sugars.  Sugar goes by many names, but whether it’s cane sugar, syrup, honey or fructose, it pretty much gets treated the same way by your body.  Reduce your sugar intake slowly and instead of just focusing on taking something away, consider adding in a healthier food option that you look forward to, to reduce any feelings of being deprived. To know your risk, take our Know More Diabetes Risk Assessment at www.MankatoClinic.com/risk-assessments.