Sugar: What Keeps You Hooked?
The Not So Sweet Side of Sugar Who doesn’t like something sweet? We all do. In fact, sugar provides energy to the body. Sugar occurs naturally in all foods that contain carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and so on. Consuming whole foods and plant foods that contain natural sugar is okay because these foods have high amounts of fiber, essential minerals, and antioxidants; and since the body digests these foods slowly, the sugar in them offers a steady supply of energy to our cells. In actuality, a high intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. The problems occur when we consume refined sugar. That is, process sugar that food manufacturers add to products to improve taste and extend shelf life. Foods rich in refined sugars are often heavily processed and they contain virtually no vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, fiber, or other beneficial compounds. In...