Here’s a shoutout to all of those who are sweet on consuming sugar: It’s time to clear up misinformation behind the world’s favorite sweetener and debunk the five most common myths about sugar.
Myth 1: Sugar is addictive. Although it might seem to lead to craving and binging, there is no scientific evidence that sugar is an addictive substance. It does, however, produce psychological effects, such as pleasure, which may lead to overconsumption.
Myth 2: Sugar makes kids hyperactive. This might seem hard to believe after seeing kids running wild after a sweet treat. However, a 1995 JAMA meta-analysis combining data from 23 experiments in 16 scientific papers concluded sugar does not affect children’s behavior or cognitive performance.
Myth 3: Sugar causes diabetes. There is no direct link between sugar and diabetes, but people often get confused because the condition is associated with blood sugar levels. However, too much sugar can increase the risk of being overweight or obese, which are risk factors for Type 2 diabetes.
Myth 4: Avoid fruit when dieting. Although people worry about their natural sugars, fruits are also full of healthy vitamins, minerals and fiber. A study also found fruits are associated with lower mortality rates.
Myth 5: Don’t eat sugar when dieting. There are many foods, like fruit, that contain sugar but have many more health benefits. So, eliminating these foods from your diet because of only one component is counterproductive.
As with anything, moderation is key. So, remember not to overconsume sugar, but there is no need to fear it. Go ahead and enjoy that treat from time to time. You deserve it!