<h5>How important is sugar for us?</h5>  <p>I’m sure you have many people in your life telling you to eat more veggies and fruits and fewer chocolates and ice cream. The last thing we want is to preach more, but you must know some facts about sugar so you can make better decisions about what to put in your body.
Humans need food for two reasons: (i) to get nutrition like vitamins and minerals so that our bodies stay healthy and (ii) to get energy so we have the strength to do all the things we need to do in a day, like study, play, etc. Our bodies mostly use carbohydrates as a source of energy. Sugar is a carbohydrate.</p>
<p>Our bodies break down all carbohydrates we eat into a type of sugar called glucose, which powers your brain, nervous system and other vital organs to do their jobs. So sugar is necessary for your body to function well.
</p> <h5>A tale of two sugars - good and bad?</h5>  <p>There are two kinds of sugar you need to be aware of:</p>
<p>1. Naturally occurring sugar: This is the sugar found naturally in fruits, vegetables and milk. Naturally occurring sugar is what makes fruits like mangoes and watermelon so yummy. It is even present in foods that don’t taste sweet, like rice and milk.</p>
<p>2. Added sugar: This is the extra sugar that’s added to foods to make them so delicious. Foods like biscuits, chocolates, cakes, soda, chips, gajar halwa, etc., contain added sugar.
</p> <h5>How does added sugar affect our bodies?</h5>  <p>When doctors, parents and others talk about the harmful effects of sugar, we’re referring to added sugar. Naturally occurring sugar is absolutely safe for you and you can have as many of your favourite fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, milk, etc., that you like.
Some ways added sugar harms our bodies:</p>
<p>It messes with your brain - Sugar causes brain degeneration. It reduces our ability to form memories and remember things. It causes brain fog because of which you have a hard time thinking clearly or concentrating.</p>
<p>It messes with your mood - Eating too much sugar causes anxiety and irritability. Sometimes, it even causes depression.</p>
<p>It messes with your body - Regularly eating added sugar negatively affects the most important organs in the body. It increases the risk of heart disease and liver problems.
</p> <h5>Does that mean I have to give up my favourite foods?</h5>  <p>Now don’t get scared. Only when a person consumes chips, ice cream, cakes, cookies, biscuits, soda, gulab jamuns, ladoos, etc., regularly for many months does their body begin to get sick. Hopefully, you’re not anywhere near such a situation.
It’s essential that you develop healthy sugar habits from now to prevent such outcomes in the future. That doesn’t mean giving up your favourite foods entirely, only having them less frequently. 
</p> <h5>What do the doctors say?</h5>  <p>Doctors say adult men can have 37.5 gms (9 teaspoons) of added sugar a day. Adult women can have 25 gms (6 teaspoons) of added sugar a day. Children can have up to 24 gms of sugar a day (about 5-6 teaspoons).
Thing is, junk food and desserts contain a lot more than just 6 teaspoons of sugar. So they can be enjoyed once or twice a week, but not every day.
Your body is an amazing machine that enables you to experience this wonderful world. You must protect it well so it can take you on whatever adventures you desire.
</p>

Sugar is a common item in our daily diets. It’s also quite harmful. Let’s take a look at why we need to be eating it less.

How Does Sugar Affect Our Bodies?

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How Does Sugar Affect Our Bodies?

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