Reasons to Cut Back on Sugar

Between 1970 and 2005, our intake of added sugars jumped 20%. The average American now consumes 350-475 empty calories from added sugars each day!

The American Heart Association recommends that we limit our intake of added sugars to 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories per day for men.

Of course, sweets taste good! And, it can be challenging to cut back.

But, once you understand how sugar wreaks havoc inside your body, it's easier to start passing up dessert.

Here's what happens when you eat sugar:  

An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body’s blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to keep your blood sugar at a constant and safe level. 

Increased insulin levels can inhibit the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. This is definitely something to avoid if you want to prevent disease. 

Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so when you eat sweets high in sugar, you’re making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. 

Besides promoting obesity & heart disease, high sugar intake can lead to diabetes, gout & high blood pressure.