With Halloween right around the corner, it’s almost impossible to escape all that sugar-laden candy, so it’s a good time to think about sugar and its effects on our bodies. We all know that eating too much sugar isn’t good for us. Sugar contains no nutrients, it only contains calories that can lead to a host of health problems which can include obesity, depression, type II diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, aging skin, and heart disease, among others. But what about natural sugars from fruit and milk and some other foods? Should we be limiting those as well?
Say No to Refined Sugar for Better Overall Health
For overall health, a smart goal is to enjoy most of your sugar from the naturally occurring sugars in foods such as fruit and milk, which contain other important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, etc., and to consume foods with added sugars (sugary drinks such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks, candy, sweet desserts, sugary cereals, etc.) in very limited amounts. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories per day. For example, if you consume a 2,000 calorie daily diet, that would be 200 calories or 50 grams of added sugars per day. Consuming too much added sugars can make it difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits.
In addition to limiting added sugars, for overall health, it is also important to focus on a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and healthy sources of protein such as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Certain supplements such as magnesium, B-complex vitamins, vitamin D, chromium, vanadium, alpha lipoic acid, berberine, green tea, resveratrol, and omega-3 fish oil supplements may help provide added support for healthy blood sugar levels, mood, cardiovascular health, and inflammation within our bodies.
If you have questions about which nutritional supplements are right for you, take our supplement quiz.
References:
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Added Sugars on the New Nutrition Facts Label.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/added-sugars-new-nutrition-facts-label.
Duyff, R. L. (2012). American Dietetic Association Complete Food & Nutrition Guide (4th ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Healthy Weight. (2016, September 08). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/
How Does Too Much Sugar Affect Your Body? (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/how-sugar-affects-your-body
Team, T. H. (2016, February 22). Herbs and Supplements for Diabetes. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/herbs-supplements#using-supplements2