No man can tell what sweet is. Everything including the fact that it can enhance the taste of our tea to the way it makes our cakes, beverages and snacks tasty, has become part of our daily living. We Nigerians learn to take sugar in one way or the other. It could be that hot cup of tea or pap in the morning with two or three cubes of sugar, or perhaps a cold bottle of Fanta or Coke when you get back in the darkness after a hot sunny day, sugar is just a step away. We even consume it without realizing that it is in bread, biscuits, cereals and in so much processed food.
However, though the sugar should have a good taste, and bring us immediate energy, the excessive amount of sugar consumption can be hazardous to our health. Not everyone is aware of how much sugar he or she takes. And even when that is, they feel that it cannot be so bad. The thing is that too much sugar has lots of negative impact on the body, and most of the time we cannot see the consequences right now. They slowly find their way, and the next thing we are dealing with is diseases that were preventable.
It is essential that the human body requires a certain amount of sugar. Which is, that is, so. Fuels are of the form of sugars. It also assists the brain to work effectively. It preserves the level of activity. However, the natural sugar that fruits and vegetables have is different to the so-called added sugar that manufacturers add inside the food and drink that we consume. The issue is that when we start consuming sugar in big quantities, the added one in particular, problems begin. We simply do not have a body that can withstand so much of it day after day.
Starting to gain weight is one of the first things that takes place when you consume too many sugars. This can be initially not a serious gain of weight. You are even able to look okay in the mirror. However, gradually, the fats begin to accumulate in your body particularly your stomach, liver and other body organs. This is a more harmful fat compared to the one that we see outside. It weakens your body and predisposes you to having illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure and also heart related diseases.
Diabetes is on the verge of becoming quite prevalent in Nigeria today. Some young people and even our parents are already living with it. In most instances, it happens due to the fact that the individual was consuming too much sugar in the body over a long period of time and several years without realizing that the body was already becoming exhausted. It has a hormone known as insulin that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. However, things start going wrong when it has excess sugar. Insulin will then start fighting. It does not work very well after a period of time. And that is the way diabetes starts. And when it does be in, it doesn't go. You must learn to live with it and it must be treated by the use of medicine, careful eating and frequent check-ups until the rest of your life.
In addition, excess sugar has an impact on your teeth. Look around and you will also find that there are many children with brown teeth or even holes in their teeth. It is so because they are consuming sweets, chewing gum and sugary beverages daily without taking care. The bacteria have their food in the mouth which is sugar. When these bacteria are released, they create acid that digs on the teeth. This brings about tooth decay. It also causes pain, odor, and in some cases teeth loss. This is the reason why dentists always remind people to avoid sugar and brush their teeth two times a day.
And it is not only that. The heart is also taken over by sugar. It has the ability to increase your blood level of bad cholesterol. When this occurs, the fat will start clogging your arteries. Thereupon, your heart will not be able to pump blood easily. Consuming a high dose of it can lead to heart attack or stroke. It is a belief that heart attacks occur to only the older generation of people or even the wealthy immigrants in foreign countries. This is however not the case. In places like Nigeria even today, individuals are dying strangely due to auto-cardiovascular problems with a big role attributed to sugar most of the time.
Other than the physical health issues that sugar may cause, it can also meddle with your mood and your brain. Initially, after consuming sugar, you are in a good mood and you are energized. However, after a while, those energy levels decay very fast and you become tired or angry. It is almost a feeling of going up and down. This is the reason why some individuals feel weak or dizzy in case they do not consume their typical sugary beverage. They fall addicted to it even without their knowledge.
The other major issue is that sugar may lead to the development of liver problems. The liver is such a significant body organ. It assists in the elimination of waste material and regulates a lot of things such as the digestion of fat and sugar. Nevertheless, there can be an overindulgence on sugar especially soft drinks and sweetened snacks and this will ultimately give your liver a beating. This is the same liver that people destroy with the help of alcohol and now sugar is doing the same thing without any noise.
Even children do not turn out to be spared. Today in Nigeria, the children are either overweight or always catching diseases. The sugar they are consuming makes their immune system weak. They are not taking natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and rice; they are consuming snacks, noodles and they are drinking soda every day. This makes them prone to falling sick and subsequently weakens their body.
And here we can talk about invisible sugar. There are numerous individuals who say, I do not use sugar; I only use tea without sugar. However, they are not aware that many of the foods that they consume have sugar lurking in them. the way of preparing perfect bread is also a high sugar food. The so-called good cereal? Plenty sugar. The added sugar can be found even in tomato ketchup, salad cream, and baked beans. And in this way, maybe we are consuming too much sugar in situations when we think that we are not.
We have to learn to regulate the intake of sugar. This will not imply eating sweet things any more. But it only means that you need to be smart. The first step is to cut down on soft drinks consumed per week. Probably, once in a long time, not day by day. On the other hand, consume more of the water. Consume more fruits, -they are sweet and they are healthy too. Children should not be given sweets whenever they ask or cry. They do in fact grow the same way that natural foods do. Moreover, never fail to check the label of a packaged food product that you purchase. Be on the lookout for words such as sucrose, fructose, corn syrup and glucose all of them are sugars.
Lastly, take regular visits to the hospital or clinic. You can never tell when your sugar level is down; you should check it occasionally even when you are feeling just normal. The old saying is true that prevention is better than cure. We are citizens of a nation, health care is so high in cost, people cannot afford to treat diabetes or heart disease. It is the cause that should be avoided, then.
To conclude, we can say that sugar tastes good in the mouth, but an excess of sugar can transform life into something bitter. It may also lead to weight gain, diabetes, teeth issues, liver related damages and heart diseases. It can be utilized both in children and adults. Without being stupid, we should take care of our body. Health is wealth after all and we need to take care of our health.