Sugar overload alert! Hidden dangers of added sugar during festive season

It starts with Halloween, then moves on to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year! The

festive season

is here and how. Apart from these, there’s Diwali as well to account for, which is a festival that’s filled with everything lit and sweet. It is inevitable to indulge in delicious food and beverages during this festive season. From IPAs to pumpkin-inspired drinks, from trick-or-treating candies to sweets, one can hardly avoid the

sugar

consumption around now. After all, who doesn’t occasionally love indulging in chocolate bars, candy corn, lollipops and other sweet goodies! However, it’s not at all healthy to consume all that sugary food and beverages since they are rich in

added sugar

.

Which food and beverages are the sources of added sugar?

Festival foods are the Disneyland of added sugar. Sweet treats like Jaleb, Rasgullas, Halwa, Gulab jamun, Besan ladoo, Motichoor ladoo are as lip-smacking as they’re harmful for your health if over-consumed. Apart from these, drinks like sodas, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and milkshakes too contain added sugar. Not only those but also desserts, such as cupcakes, muffins, cakes, pies, ice cream, cookies, and donuts, which are popular festival foods – are laden with added sugar. In fact, sweet breakfasts, such as sweet cereals, jams, jellies, white bread, cinnamon raisin, honey nut bread, cereal bars, pastries, and syrup laced pancakes too aren’t free of added sugar.

Side-effects of added sugar:

Over-consumption of food and beverages rich in added sugar can have many adverse effects, which can seriously affect one’s health.
Weight gain

and

obesity

: Added sugars provide calories without vital nutrients, which can make it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits. Consuming too much sugar can lower your HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and raise your LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol). The same leads your body to store the excess calories as triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides are a serious risk factor for

heart disease

.
Tooth decay: Sugars are a primary food source for bacteria that cause tooth decay, cavities, and more serious infections. Too much consumption of candies, milk chocolates, and milkshakes can lead to serious dental issues.
Heart disease: Added sugars can contribute to heart disease. When one eats or drinks too much sugar, their blood sugar levels increase. This causes their body to release insulin, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves in one’s heart too. The extra insulin in your bloodstream can cause the walls of your arteries to become inflamed, thicker, and stiffer. This can stress your heart and damage it over time. Eating less sugar can help lower blood pressure, which is another major risk factor for heart disease.

Type 2 diabetes: Added sugars can contribute to

type 2 diabetes

. When you eat too much sugar, your body can become resistant to insulin, or it might not produce enough insulin. This causes glucose to stay in your bloodstream, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Fatty Liver: High fructose corn syrup and other concentrated sweets can cause your liver to process glucose and fructose in a way that leads to fatty liver. Fatty liver is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Sexual health: Sugar can affect the circulatory system, which is responsible for blood flow throughout the body. This can impact the chain of events needed for an erection. A diet high in sugar can lead to insulin resistance, which can cause testosterone levels to drop in both men and women. This can lead to sexual function disorders like erectile dysfunction and reduced sex drive. Sugar can cause temporary spikes in blood sugar, which can lead to fatigue and reduced energy levels. This can also decrease levels of Orexin, a neurotransmitter that regulates feelings of arousal. Besides, sugar consumption can increase stress levels, which can decrease libido.
Some cancers: Added sugars have been linked to some cancers. As over-consumption of sugar leads to weight gain, obesity can cause hormonal changes that increase the risk of cancer. Fat cells produce hormones that regulate inflammation, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer.