Sugar is ubiquitous in the majority of the foods we eat. It’s sneaky, hiding in unsuspecting places like your pasta sauce, your condiments, and the dressing for your salad. In recent years, Americans have started relying more and more on “low fat” foods. These foods, in an effort to keep the taste palatable, are loaded up with sugar, which ramps up your carbohydrate intake for the day. However, don’t confuse sugar with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a macronutrient that is necessary for your body to properly function. Sugar, on the other hand, is a simple carbohydrate that is usually added during the refinement process in factories. It adds empty calories without providing any additional nutritional benefits. This translates to weight gain and a whole host of bad health effects. Read on for reasons to decrease the amount of sugar you consume, independent of the scale being a motivator.
It cuts down on human rights violations – It is a little known fact, but sugarcane workers usually suffer from hunger and live in extreme poverty. The Coalition of Agricultural Workers International conducted a study that found that the average sugar worker’s family made up of 6 members had a budget of about 5 cents per meal. Malnutrition plagues the workers, and the farmers that toil on the land rarely enjoy the fruits of their labor. Due to a corrupt and antiquated hacienda system in the Philippines, the few families that control the sugar industry also have a powerful presence in the fertilizers, pesticides and farming tools industries. They control the money and the resources, leaving little for the farmers.
It’s better for the planet – Growing sugarcane is actually very taxing on Mother Earth. It’s an extremely water-intensive crop, and its continual presence in the soil has a harmful impact on the biodiversity of areas like the Mekong Delta and the Atlantic Forest, which already suffer from fragile environments. However, the constant demand for sugar from a sugar-craved world keeps the industry thriving, and so it’s difficult to decrease the crop’s presence. Furthermore, ethanol can be produced from sugarcane through a process known as fermentation. The demand keeps on increasing as the price of petroleum continues to rise. Sugar mills also produce extensive amounts of toxic emissions and wastewater that can leach into freshwater bodies, damaging the rivers and the oceans.
It keeps the old ticker healthier –Multiple studies have confirmed that a correlation exists between people
It will energize you – Sugar has the annoying effect of tricking us into thinking that it will give us an energy boost. While initially, that package of gummy worms in your system may give you a slight boost in energy due to the insulin spike, it will quickly lead you feeling fatigued, irritated, and craving more. This starts an endless cycle that is difficult to break out of. A piece of fruit is your best substitution because although it does contain natural sugars, it also contains fiber. Fiber keeps you feeling fuller and satiated for longer. It also contains valuable micronutrients that are essential for keeping you healthy.
It helps decrease leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that is secreted by adipose cells or