When it comes to living healthy, sugar is often portrayed as our body’s vexing enemy.
However, how much of what we hear about sugar is an entirely different matter altogether. For example, we completely agree that having sugar in large amounts every day is not healthy.
Nevertheless, isn’t it true for just about anything we consume? Be it milk, nuts, fish, or fruits — everything should be consumed within a reasonable limit.
Our body requires at least a small portion of all foods to lead a balanced lifestyle. It’s only the overconsumption that one has to worry about.
To put things into further context, we’re sharing the top seven lies about sugar we need to unlearn to get on the fast track to a nutrition-savvy lifestyle right away:
1- Sugar is the kiss of death
While you must have probably heard repeatedly that sugar is harmful to us, saying that “all sugars” are the kiss of death would be wrong. After all, all fruits have a considerable amount of natural sugar in them. The same goes for yogurt and honey. Therefore, saying that “all sugar is bad sugar” is nothing but a fluke.
The only takeaway is to ensure that you don’t consume a whole packet of sweets in one go and savour them in healthy portions.
2- Natural sweeteners are better than white sugar
Next, if you think natural or minimally processed sweeteners are better than white sugar, you can’t be more wrong. While the sweeteners utilised in honey and maple syrup contain more nutrients, the difference is so minimal that neither source of sugar impacts our bodies differently.
In short, your body doesn’t know where the sugar has come from or what its original source is. The result is always the same – processing the sugar into smaller molecules called monosaccharides.
3- Sugar makes us hyper-active
Again, hyperactivity only comes into play when you consume large portions of sugar. Even saying that sugar makes us go into hyper-active mode is not enough of a reason to call it unhealthy since the matter is still being debated, according to several researchers.
4- Sugar makes us sick
Cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart diseases – People have associated various ailments with sugar intake. However, the truth is that consuming sugar in moderation neither increases nor decreases your chances of encountering any disease. As long as you’re not overdoing it and opting for the best wholesale sweets UK brands, treating yourself to a Rhubarb and Custard tub shouldn’t be a problem!
5- Sugar works like an addictive drug in our system
Comparing sugary foods to drugs is also not correct. However, let us explain why some people insist upon this comparison. When a person consumes something sweet, it causes their blood level to spike and drops down after a while. The sudden drop can sometimes translate into a slight headache, making your brain think you need more sugar to feel better.
The comparison between sugar and drugs is a currently debated topic. However, as of now, there’s no evidence to support the idea that sugar has addictive properties.
6- Sugar-free replacements are the healthier alternative
Several people think it’s better to lean toward no-calorie alternatives, including sugar-free cookies and diet sodas to prevent obesity and promote health. However, this idea usually backfires in the worst way possible because consumption of sugar-free replacements, such as saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, are intricately linked to weight gain, high blood pressure, strokes, and heart diseases.
In short, there’s mounting evidence suggesting that artificial sweeteners disrupt our system and create problems with our healthy gut bacteria.
7- Going on a low-sugar diet makes us lose weight faster
As mentioned in the last point, it’s not white sugar, brown sugar, or any other processed sugar that leads to weight gain, as long as you consume them in moderation. Instead, it’s the sugar-free alternatives that lead to obesity and other metabolic problems. So, if you’re looking to lose weight, you must avoid diet products rather than avoiding sugar.
We hope unlearning these seven lies about sugar will now lead you to live a healthier life ahead instead of opting for options that are significantly harmful to you.
