Dangers of sugar manifest in Western societies as refined sugar becomes a daily addiction. From sugary coffee and tea to sweet spreads on sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, and snacks, the pervasive use poses health risks.

Every three weeks, one kilogram is added

40 kilograms of sugar per year corresponds to a sugar consumption of about 37 sugar cubes per person per day. 37 sugar cubes will give you almost 600 extra calories.

If you don’t actually burn these 600 calories again, such as during sports or physical work, then these additional calories will result in a weight gain of 1 kilogram after just under three weeks.

And we’re not talking about excessive sugar consumption here, but about a very average one.

Sugar goes by many names

The sugar content of a product is often deliberately “hidden” from the consumer. In the list of ingredients on the label, the sugar is not necessarily declared as such.

There may be sucrose (simply another term for sugar) or glucose syrup (a cheap substitute for table sugar that is no less dangerous).

Products often also contain pure glucose, fructose, lactose or malt sugar. All of these sugars are refined industrial sugars – regardless of whether they are derived from milk or fruit.

The health effects of these sugars are as serious as those of conventional table sugar.

However, because sugar has become so commonplace and natural for most of us, many are wondering: What are sugar’s effects on the body? Is it genuinely a “poison” as claimed?

What is a poison?

If you look in the dictionary, the term “poison” is described as follows: “A substance that injures or kills an organism” and “has a destructive effect on health”.

Can sugar destroy health? Can it injure or even kill an organism? After all, many millions of people around the globe eat large amounts of sugar every day in the form of sweets, ice cream, cakes and sweetened beverages – and do NOT drop dead afterwards.

So how does sugar really work?

Sugar has been shown to impair the performance of the immune system. Even the average amount of sugar consumed per day is enough to significantly weaken the immune system. When the immune system is weakened, bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites have an easy time.

As a result, people automatically become susceptible to many diseases.

The difference between sugar and a sugar beet

When you eat a sugar beet, you are not only consuming sugar, as the beet also contains fiber, vitamins and a lot of minerals. Nature has combined everything our body needs to keep us healthy in our food.

If now only the sugar extracted by the industry is consumed, then our organism misses the fiber, vitamins and minerals that are normally in the sugar beet.

Industrial sugar no longer contains these vital substances. The only thing sugar has to offer is carbohydrates in abundance. Not only do they make you fat, but they also make you sick. Not right away, of course, because otherwise no one would want to eat sugar anymore.

The process proceeds gradually and inconspicuously, so that hardly anyone comes up with the idea of looking for the culprit for his miserable state of health in sugar.

Sugar creates vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Since neither vitamins, minerals nor fiber arrive with the sugar, the body has to get the accompanying substances necessary to process the sugar from its own stores.

And what happens when large quantities of pure sugar arrive in the body day after day, but the vital substances that actually belong to it are missing? Then the body has to reach into its pantries every day.

A chronic mineral deficiency is the inevitable result.

This deficiency causes tooth decay, obesity, a weak immune system, hyperactive children and all the phenomena associated with premature aging (wrinkles, hair loss, eyes that always need stronger glasses, etc.).

The Long-Term Consequences of Sugar Consumption

After many years of regular sugar consumption, diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes can develop, both of which are among the long-term effects of increased sugar consumption.

Moreover, it increases the risk of heart disease and autoimmune conditions like arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis.

Sugar also damages the liver, irritates the stomach and destroys the healthy intestinal flora. In the intestine, the sugar feeds the parasitic fungi that live there and thus leads to hormonal disorders of various kinds. So sugar can very well destroy health.

The danger posed by sugar has been known for a long time

As early as 1957, Dr. William Coda Martin, in an article for the Michigan Organic News, described sugar as a poison that lacked vitality, vitamins, and minerals:

“What’s left are pure, refined carbohydrates. An incomplete conversion of carbohydrates leads to the formation of toxic metabolites (such as pyruvic acid).”

Today, this statement is no less relevant. The completely underestimated toxins produced during the metabolism of sugar impair many functions of the body and give the starting signal for the development of degenerative diseases.

Degenerative diseases refer to all diseases and symptoms that have appeared in the course of civilization, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases (e.g. of the thyroid gland or digestive system), but also cancer and many more.

Sugar doesn’t just puncture teeth

Most people know that sugar is bad for the teeth, attacks them and “punctures” them. Teeth are the hardest material in our body. If sugar can puncture this material, what do you think it can do to the rest of the body?

In the book “Sugar Blues,” William Dufty highlights:

“Dental researchers have proven that teeth are subject to the same metabolic processes as the rest of the body.”

In other words, the acid that ruins tooth enamel is the same acid that harms your guts. The intestines are particularly at risk here. For example, the cause of a leaky gut syndrome (permeable or perforated intestinal mucosa) develops in most cases due to excessive sugar and carbohydrate consumption…

Sugar poses another problem

A disadvantage of sugar that should not be underestimated is its high addictive potential. Yes, sugar is definitely addictive and therefore it is not so easy to drastically reduce sugar consumption.

So what to do?

Make a decision! It is YOUR body and YOUR life. If you decide to live a life without sugar, always read the ingredient list on the labels of your food to also track down the hidden sugar in cream cheese, ready-made soup, sausage and breakfast cereal.

Brown sugar should also be avoided

By the way, so-called brown sugar, beet or cane sugar is no better for your health than white sugar. Brown sugar is often just white sugar with added dyes and other chemicals.

Stay vigilant – it’s worth it! Very soon, you will be able to feel the positive effects that a sugar-free life brings.

Look for alternatives

During the transition phase, you can use alternative sweeteners, such as coconut sugar, xylitol, molasses, yacon or stevia. If you’re craving sweets, just reach for fresh fruit or drink a fruit smoothie.

Almond milk, prepared with or without fruit, is also a very healthy and extremely delicious alternative.

You can also test the fantastic effect of bitter substances, which can reduce cravings for sweet foods. With this, you will quickly minimize your consumption of sweetened foods. Detailed information about the tips mentioned can be found here: in our article on Bitter substances.