According to some naysayers, sugar is the culprit behind a wide variety of conditions ranging from obesity to cancer.
The fact is, sugar CAN be good for the body if taken moderately. In truth, sugar is essential to our survival. Forgoing sugar can cause our metabolism to be damaged. As a consequence, we would suffer from low-performing digestion, and poor immune system, leaving our body open to a barrage of diseases.
Without further ado, here are 5 sugar myths, debunked for your reading pleasure as you bite into a well-deserved portion of dessert.
Myth 1: Don’t eat too much sugar; it makes you hyper
How many times have we heard children being scolded by their moms come Halloween trick-or-treating time? The fact is, there’s usually a copious amount of sugar during celebrations, so if you think about it, it makes sense to say that people would feel “hyper” due to the celebratory vibe and joy they are feeling. There is no scientific research to date that could prove that sugar makes us “high”.
Myth 2: Stay away from sugar if you don’t want to get diabetes
This is probably the mother of all sugar misconceptions. If you already have diabetes, then it makes sense to watch your sugar intake, but if you have not been diagnosed with diabetes before, then you will not develop the condition simply by ingesting sugar. Diabetes is usually caused by a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of proper diet or exercise.
Myth 3: Brown sugar is more nutritional than white
Another nutrition myth, this misconception has caused many people to shun white sugar in favor of brown as they believe the latter is “healthier and less risky”. This is not true as the difference between these two is the amount of molasses in brown sugar. Last time I checked, molasses simply would not make food healthier than the other.
Myth 4: Natural sugar is evil; artificial sweetener is the true hero!
False, false, false! A new study revealed that artificial sweeteners may be linked to obesity. Aspartame is the culprit behind long-term side effects such as:
- decreased vision health and blurness
- tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- increased instances of migraine
- heart palpitations
- and more
Myth 5: Don’t eat too much fruits; they’re sugar-laden!
This is a misconception that should be weeded out immediately. Fruits may contain sugar (fructose), but they also contain a high amount of fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that keep our body healthy and strong. Consuming fruits also help in fighting diseases. Besides, fruits contain soluble fiber which will help maintain an optimal cholesterol level, so they do keep the pounds at bay!
