Sugar: The Silent Killer

We all love desserts, right? Now, Silent Killer be it yummy ice cream or chocolate cakes, we all wish to devour them as soon as we see them. If you are someone like me, you must always dream of having tiramisu, but is it good? Why is too much sweet often linked to health hazards and extreme health conditions? Why do doctors always warn us about sugar ? let’s uncover it

Sugar The Silent Killer?

#SugarTheSilentKiller

When we hear the phrase “sugar the silent killer”  we assert that sugar is nothing but white poison. Too much of anything can be very detrimental to health. As much as is integral in our daily life and routine, we must know that its balanced use is extremely vital and compulsory. What most of us don’t realise is that it is one of the most dangerous things that we consume daily as it leads us to dangerous and deadly diseases like Diabetes, heart attack and obesity. 

The Diabetes Epidemic

#thediabetesepidemic

Right now, Pakistan is third on the list of diabetes after India. We have been on this list for far too long. This number is expected to rise to 100 million by 2030. Furthermore, the consumption of Silent Killer has risen dramatically over the past few years. We take daily life examples of chai and coffee which most of us drink every day and in that too we add sugar silent killer. 

The World Health Organization recommends that we should not consume sugar more than 10% in our daily routine, but the sad part is that many consume more than 10% of it. 

Sugar is also found in fruits and vegetables, but this sugar that we consume daily is not as such, it is firstly not organic and secondly far from healthy. These sugars include table sugar (sucrose), high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners. These types of sugars are far from natural sugars. 

How Is Sugar Bad For Health? 

Sugar can be very hazardous to our health. One thing that we need to know about sugar is that affects our brain in such a way that we tend to want more of it, which can be very addicting. A study was conducted which saw that consuming sugar can release dopamine which makes it harder for us to lose. 

Furthermore, sugar is the number one cause of obesity and weight gain all around the world. With weight gain comes a myriad of problems which include heart diseases. Sugar is also responsible for damaging insulin receptor sites on cells causing them not to work as well as they should. This makes glucose harder to get into cells. 

Also, when a person’s glucose level rises it leads to diabetes. As sugar silent killer enters our bloodstream, it is quickly absorbed by it, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. This then causes a surge in insulin, this hormone is there to regulate blood sugar levels. Over time the constant urge for insulin can lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin and that’s where diabetes enters. 

In a new study, it is also revealed that Silent Killer can provoke our “fight or flight” response causing us to have more stress.

What Are Some Alternatives For Sugar? 

There are several healthy alternatives to sugar silent killer. Firstly, it is important to remember that we must change our lifestyle to decrease our sugar intake. Here are some popular alternatives for sugar; 

1. Stevia

#stevia

Extracted from leaves, stevia is a natural sweetener which is much sweeter than usage but has zero calories. 

2. Monk Fruit Sweetener

#MonkFruitSweetener

Also known as Luo Han Guo, monk fruit sweetener is derived from the monk fruit and is much sweeter than sugar. 

3. Honey 

#honey

Honey is another very safe alternative which is produced by bees from flower nectar. It contains small amounts of vitamins, nutrients and minerals.