It is now clear that a diet high in sugar causes various health risks. But are there any studies that back it?
Fortunately, there is one study that finds a high-sugar diet is bad for the immune system. Additionally, other studies also found that too much sugar consumption is bad for heart health, kidneys and even in unborn children.
In this study, researchers say the obvious that a high-sugar diet induces Type-2 diabetes and aberrant activation of the innate immune system, including inflammation.
Our results have established a connection between T2D and the innate immune response.
Yu S, Zhang G, Jin LH. A high-sugar diet affects cellular and humoral immune responses in Drosophila. Exp Cell Res. 2018;368(2):215–224. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2018.04.032
Moreover, the Biotics Research Corporation specifies that man-made sweeteners such as aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup(HFCS) can have serious harmful effects on the immune system. They even recommend avoiding giving such artificial and man-made sweeteners to infants.
Minimizing Consumption If Can’t Be Avoided Totally
Today, the majority of food products contained man-made and artificial sugars. Unfortunately, food manufacturers have a way to hide sugars as an ingredient in their products by naming them with a wide range of names.
It makes difficult for consumers to avoid them because sugar may not be written as an ingredient but as a different name. In fact, 2 or more types of sugar may contain in a single product.
Hence, to effectively minimize sugar consumption, knowing various sugar names and reading food labels are keys to avoiding and minimizing consumption.
It is crucial to take this approach at an individual level especially that hidden studies have now emerged about the harmful effects of sugar. These are the studies conducted by the industry but not released to the public due to its negative advantage for the industry.
As a matter of fact, one study, which is a 90-year long study found that sugar feeds cancer cells. Another study also found that men consuming a high amount of sugar are likely to get depressed.
Learn To Read The Labels
Knowing the various names of sugars is a helpful skill and developing the habit of reading food labels is another. Together, these two are key to minimizing sugar consumption and even avoiding man-made artificial sweeteners.
Sugar is not bad at all as long as it is natural sugars and consuming it in moderation. However, not knowing the many names of sugar can lead to overconsumption.
Even if one product contains less than the recommended daily intake of sugar, it can easily add up when consuming various food products throughout the day on a daily basis.
