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What are Common Health Issues Related to Sugar?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Health issues associated with the consumption of sugar are numerous. Since refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup are two simple forms that are the most common additives in food, it is helpful to know just how many health conditions one is risking by eating too much.

Naturally, one of the big health issues related to the consumption of sugar is obesity. Refined sugar, and those in simple carbohydrates like white flour bread, account for most of the weight gain people experience after reaching maturity. Especially since level of physical activity has decreased among many in the Western world, and the level of sugar consumption has increased, it is definitely a weapon that will result in excess weight.

Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain.
Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain.

Eating sugar has also been indicated in raising bad cholesterol while lowering good cholesterol. Weight gain is indicated in hardening of the arteries which directly contributes to heart disease. Further, sugar definitely plays a role in developing some types of diabetes.

Sugar, particularly that in fruit juice, is also known to cause tooth decay. Consumption may also make one more likely to suffer from gum disease. Thus vigorous brushing of the teeth should always follow consumption of sugar.

It is though that sugar plays a role in how we behave as well. It has been suggested that excess may cause depression. It may also result in hyperactivity or mood swings as one drops from sugar highs to lows.

Sugar is a very common food additive.
Sugar is a very common food additive.

Recent studies also suggest that too much sugar can lower the body’s natural immune response. People who consume a lot of this substance are more likely to get bacterial infections than are people who avoid it. Sugar is also indicated in digestive problems, because too much can cause higher acid amounts in the stomach. This can lead to diarrhea, particularly in those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.

Pregnant women who have high sugar levels are at higher risk for preeclampsia.
Pregnant women who have high sugar levels are at higher risk for preeclampsia.

Pregnant women who eat too much sugar raise their risks for developing preeclampsia. In fact, pregnant women have their urine levels monitored for high sugar levels as part of their routine prenatal care. Many pregnant women benefit from avoiding sweets as much as possible.

Some other health conditions in which sugar may play a role include:

Reading labels carefully can help to identify hidden sugars in many products.
Reading labels carefully can help to identify hidden sugars in many products.

With so many health risks associated with sugar, it helps to have a guide on how to avoid excess. A few things can help. Eat sweet treats only occasionally. Avoid simple carbohydrates like white rice and white flour. Do not eat packaged foods, especially cereals. Read labels on foods to see which contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Especially avoid regular soda, as this is like drinking liquid sugar.

Those with a blood sugar level below 70, or hypoglycemia, will start experiencing symptoms like sweating, shaking, anxious feelings, hunger, and heart palpitations.
Those with a blood sugar level below 70, or hypoglycemia, will start experiencing symptoms like sweating, shaking, anxious feelings, hunger, and heart palpitations.

Though we can’t always skip convenience food, cutting one’s use of packaged foods in half and avoiding soda would significantly decrease sugar intake for many people. Given the health risks, it would make good sense to try to keep intake to a minimum.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon97781

green tea is good. no milk, no sugar, full of antioxidants.

anon33438

as an over fifty anybody will tell you there is a drive to drink beverages. since high school the gallons pour down but there's nothing safe about coffee cola or tea with sugar. tomato juice is for those with an iron stomach and water goes down like bricks. what should we do with this thirst to rinse our livers and don't say beer. ha ha. Id love beer if it weren't for the alcohol.

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    • Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain.
      By: mocker_bat
      Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain.
    • Sugar is a very common food additive.
      By: sumire8
      Sugar is a very common food additive.
    • Pregnant women who have high sugar levels are at higher risk for preeclampsia.
      By: LanaK
      Pregnant women who have high sugar levels are at higher risk for preeclampsia.
    • Reading labels carefully can help to identify hidden sugars in many products.
      By: Kadmy
      Reading labels carefully can help to identify hidden sugars in many products.
    • Those with a blood sugar level below 70, or hypoglycemia, will start experiencing symptoms like sweating, shaking, anxious feelings, hunger, and heart palpitations.
      By: zothen
      Those with a blood sugar level below 70, or hypoglycemia, will start experiencing symptoms like sweating, shaking, anxious feelings, hunger, and heart palpitations.