03/24/2021
Sugar. It's sweet, it's delicious, and it's necessary in the right amounts. Sugar is naturally occurring in carbohydrate containing foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains. These types of sugars are easily used by the body for energy and they also contain lots of good vitamins and minerals to support health.
Sugar becomes problematic when we consume too much added sugar. This is sugar that's not naturally occurring in foods but is added in by manufacturers for flavour and as a preservative. Examples of foods with added sugar include cakes, cookies, soda, fruit drinks, candy, etc.
Overconsumption of sugar is associated with prediabetes and diabetes, as well as chronic inflammation and heart disease.
In regards to digestion, too much added and processed sugar can increase numbers of unfriendly bacteria in the gut, leading to inflammation. Over time, this can weaken the integrity of the intestinal lining and increase the incidence of food sensitivities and other digestive issues.
How can you reduce your consumption?
Choosing more naturally occurring sugars such as maple syrup, honey, fruit, and vegetables that your body knows how to work with in place of refined sugars (think corn syrup, table sugar, fruit juice concentrates).
However consuming less sugar overall is the best tactic to reduce your risk of chronic disease.