FAQ
Cut Sugar Intake for All-Round Health
Too much salt, fat and cholesterol in your diet can affect your heart health, and now the American Heart Association (AHA) has placed added sugars on this list.
According to AHA, a high intake of sugar is associated with a number of poor health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation and high triglyceride levels, all of which are risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
What is sugar?
White granulated table sugar, also known as sucrose is the most common form of sugar. But it is not the only kind of sugar; other forms include high fructose corn syrup, glucose, honey and maple syrup.
Are some types of sugar better than others?
A calorie of sugar is a calorie of sugar, so whether you are getting it from white sugar or some other types of sugar, you are still adding calorie to your diet. The bottom line: a sugar is a sugar.
Does sugar cause diabetes?
Eating sugar per se does not cause diabetes. However, high sugar intake can contribute to overweight and obesity, and being overweight can increase the risk of developing diabetes. People with diabetes monitor their sugar intake to help manage their blood sugar.
Can Sugar Worsen Cholesterol?
Researchers have found a link between high sugar intake and unhealthy levels of blood fats - higher triglycerides and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol.
In a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), people who ate the largest amount of added sugars had the highest blood triglycerides and lowest HDL (good) cholesterol levels. That study showed that eating lots of sugar more than tripled the odds of having low HDL cholesterol levels a strong risk factor for heart disease,
In contrast, people who ate the least sugar had lowest triglyceride levels and highest HDL, a protective factor against heart disease.
In a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), people who ate the largest amount of added sugars had the highest blood triglycerides and lowest HDL (good) cholesterol levels. That study showed that eating lots of sugar more than tripled the odds of having low HDL cholesterol levels a strong risk factor for heart disease,
In contrast, people who ate the least sugar had lowest triglyceride levels and highest HDL, a protective factor against heart disease.
Are we consuming too much sugar?
Sugars contribute zero nutrients and only extra calories that can lead to weight gain and obesity. On an average, a person in Malaysia is consuming way too much sugar, about 19 teaspoons or 76 grams of sugar a day. This works out to 300 calories a day from sugar alone! The American Heart Association recommended that most women should consume no more than 6 teaspoon or 25 grams (100 calories) of added sugar a day; for men no more than 9 teaspoon or 37.5 grams (150 calories). Sugar sweetened beverage are the main source of added sugars.
What about Substituting with Artificial Sweeteners like Aspartame or Sucralose?
The question with artificial sweeteners is whether they are really as safe as they claim to be.
To find out more about their safety just go into the internet and type in:
Check product labels for any Aspartame or Sucralose.
To find out more about their safety just go into the internet and type in:
- "Aspartame" side effects or poisoning or dangers.
- "Sucralose" side effects or dangers.
Check product labels for any Aspartame or Sucralose.
What About Substituting with All-natural Sweetener?
High purity Stevia extract (EVERSWEETT) derived from the sweetleaf plant, is an excellent substitute for sugar. Besides tasting good, Stevia extract has no calorie, has no effect on blood sugars and has been approved as safe by American FDA. It is a way to satisfy your sweet tooth without sugar. Cut sugar intake for all-round health!