Sugar Facts

• Sugars are classified chemically as monosaccharides or disaccharides.
• Monosaccharides include glucose, fructose and galactose are simple sugars.
• Disaccharides consist of 2 linked monosaccharide units. They include sucrose (table sugar = 1 glucose molecule + 1 fructose molecule), lactose (milk sugar = 1 glucose molecule + 1 galactose molecule) and maltose (formed from the digestion of starch and glycogen = 2 glucose molecules).
• Table sugar is virtually 100% pure sucrose which consist of glucose (dextose) and fructose and is mainly derived from sugar beets and sugar cane.
• Table sugar only provides sweetness and calories. It does not contain any additional nutrition.
• Carbohydrates and starches are actually complex chain of sugars.
• Sugar is additive.

Excessive Sugar Consumption Over Time

1. Suppresses the immune system directly and indirectly :

• Glucose competes with vitamin C for transport sites into the white blood cells. Decreased vitamin C level, decreases white blood cell functions.
• Sugar is the chief nutrient for the yeast organism Candida albicans , which causes candidiasis. Overgrowth of Candida albicans in the guts suppresses the immune system and this may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome as well as making us susceptible to infections such as cold etc.

2. Impairs estrogen metabolism : Evidence is based on higher frequency of PMS symptoms amongst women who consume a high sugar diet and that high sugar intake is associated with higher estrogen levels. This may increase risk for uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer.

3. Increases risk for colon cancer :

• A study on 38,451 women who were followed for almost 8 years revealed that women who consumed the highest glycaemic load food were nearly 3 times more likely to develop colon cancer.
• The study shows that not only can a diet high in sugar boost the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity but it may also lead to colon cancer.
• (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Feb.4, 2004; 96(3); 229-233.)

4. Contributes to tooth decay, weight gain, diabetes and hyperactivity in children.

5. Increases the formation of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End products) : Which can contribute greatly to blood vessel and nerve damage among other things. AGEs are formed when glucose molecules bind with protein or fat molecules in our body.

6. Raises triglycerides levels, lowers HDL level and suppresses appetite.

7. Compounds the negative effects of caffeine on depression PMS and mood : Elimination of sugar and refined carbohydrate from the diet is sometimes all that is needed for effective therapy in patients whose depression results from reactive hypoglycaemia.

8. Contributes to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) : By decreasing intestinal motility - the rhythmic contractions of the intestines that propel food through the digestive tract. When blood sugar levels rise too rapidly due to excessive ingestion of sugars, normal rhythmic contractions of the GI tract slows down. Since glucose is primary absorbed in the duodenum, and jejunum, these first 2 parts of the small intestine may become atonic (paralyzed).

9. Increases urinary excretion of calcium as well as risk for kidney stone formation : The ingestion of sucrose (table sugar) and other simple sugars causes an exaggerate increase in the urinary calcium oxalate content in about 70% of people with recurrent kidney stones. People with recurrent kidney stones should therefore avoid sugar.

10. May be a risk factor for gallstone and biliary tract cancer based on the relationship between sugars, blood lipids and gallstone formation : In a 25 year follow up study of 860 men, 54 of whom develop symptomatic gallstones found a positive association between sugar consumption and gallstone.

11. May contribute to destructive, aggressive and restless behaviour : It has been demonstrated that such behaviours significantly co-relates to the amount of sucrose consumed. Excessive sugar consumption also appears to be the major factor in promoting reactive hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia would obviously promote hyperactivity via increased adrenalin secretion.

12. Is either a significant or contributing cause of heart disease, arteriosclerosis, mental illness, senility, hypertension & cancer.

13. May lead to consistently higher levels of insulin in the blood (hyperinsulinemia). Too much insulin in the blood causes :

• Fluid retention (it encourages the kidneys to retain salt and water).
• Thickening of arterial walls making them less flexible and elastic.
• Increased levels of an adrenalin-like substance called nor-epinephrine from the adrenal gland. This makes the hearts beat faster resulting in elevated pressure.
• Increased synthesis of cholesterol particularly the LDL cholesterol.

14. May contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes due to the following possibilities :

• Consistently high insulin level over time may result in the body cells developing a resistant to the hormone.
• Consistently working overtime for a prolong period of time to produce insulin may exhaust the beta cells in the pancreas.
• Makes us overweight or obese which is associated with insulin resistant and glucose intolerance.

15. Unbalances the endocrine system and injuring its component glands such as the adrenal glands, pancreas and liver, causing blood sugar level to fluctuate widely.

16. According to Dr. Grahame Archard, head of obesity at the Royal College of General Practitioners, sugar is the major problem that leads to obesity, diabetes and other medical conditions.

17. Increase in the consumption of sugar in the last 50 years has coincided with an increased incidence of dental caries, diabetes, coronary heart diseases and obesity.

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