There is good evidence that excess sugar consumption contributes to the current
U.S. epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Although the human
body can convert surplus calories in the form of each of the macronutrient categories
(carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and alcohol) into fat, the biochemical pathways
for metabolizing dietary fat, alcohol and the fructose found in almost all forms of
added sugar, make it more likely that extra calories from these sources will end
up stored as fat. People with the metabolic syndrome are at high risk for CVD.
Studies of children by Lustig and his colleagues have shown that sugar restriction can rapidly improve the unhealthy biomarkers that characterize the syndrome.
Nearly one in 10 adults worldwide are now affected by diabetes, a condition that
increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and harms not just the heart but also the
kidneys, eyes, and peripheral circulation. Studies implicate excessive sugar intake
as an independent cause of high diabetes rates and a contributor to the causation
of cardiovascular diseases. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated
with weight gain as well as type 2 diabetes. The Health Professionals’
Follow-Up Study found that participants in the top quartile of sugar-sweetened
beverage intake (about 6.5 soft drinks per week) had a 20% higher relative risk of
coronary heart disease than those in the bottom quartile. The recommended daily
consumption of added sugar is very low, with no more than 100 calories for women
and 150 calories for men.
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel
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