New Delhi: Sugar is often considered a sweet poison! According to some studies, this is true to an extent as consuming more amount of sugar can lead to weight gain, acne, Type 2 diabetes and also serious health conditions. From artificial sweeteners used in various food products to peanut butter, many of us rely on such products way too much, but little do we understand their serious impact on health. The researchers have identified that refined sugar is becoming the New Tobacco making people addicted to it. This generation mostly binges on refined sugar food products starting from their morning coffee.
Dr Swami Kannu Director & Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, MGM Healthcare shared with News9, “Refined sugar is used in most of the food which we consume daily like bread, biscuits, tea, coffee, fresh juices, ice creams, sweets, pastries, etc.”
Understanding the Problem
“Refined sugars can be traced in many of our favourite foods, including cake, ice cream, and candy. There is an association between these sweets and chronic diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. It is hidden in the food that we eat and affects our bodies in ways we may not even realise.” From early-morning tea to late-night pastries, it is everywhere, making up a sprawling 75 per cent of all food intake for us in a four-season day.
Health Implications
According to Dr Kannu, “The link between refined sugar and health issues is well-established. Obesity, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, diabetes, and heart diseases are all on the radar, posing a serious challenge to our well-being. The alarming rise in diabetes cases in India demands urgent attention and a re-evaluation of our dietary choices.”
Signs and Symptoms
Understanding the signals our bodies send is the first step towards a sugar-conscious lifestyle. It’s time to diagnose the problem and take charge of our well-being.
Treatment Solutions:
Palate Training: It takes time to develop a taste for less sweet options. Use natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar to experiment. In addition to adding sweetness, these products have unique flavours for your palate too. Only a little change yet it bears great consequences for your health.
Whole food choices: You can opt for whole foods over simple and processed snacks. The latter will turn out to be better whole grains, fruits, and vegetables not only contain essential nutrients but also maintain the level of energy you need without any high sugar peaks and their corresponding crashes.
Consciousness of eating: You need to develop a sense of mindfulness in your eating. Be careful about what you eat and how much you eat. Because mindful eating leads to better awareness of hunger and fullness, it is less likely for those who practice this discipline to binge on sweet treats later.
Natural Sweeteners: This doesn’t mean just making fruit salads; smoothies or sweet, naturally frozen fruit in your dessert. By adding fruits to your dish of natural sugar, you also get vitamins, fibre, and antioxidants; it’s a part of the food that has grown from healthy. Eating like this means no one can stop eating both good taste and health!
Homemade Treats: Better to control your sugar which is prepared in homemade sugar treats, this way you can also manage the amount of sugar used in your meal, substituting refined sugar can also use healthy lifestyles. To determine hidden sugars in processed foods better to intake low-level sugar content, being informed about the sugar content in your groceries enriches your daily healthy lifestyle.
The researchers have identified that refined sugar is becoming the New Tobacco making people addicted to it. The current generation consumes refined sugar in almost all food items starting from their morning coffee. With the lifestyle and eating pattern changes, food with refined sugar is consumed even late during the night. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
