• Question: How does sugar affect our bodies?

    Asked by 427thaf27 to Sian, Dawn on 17 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by Jo.
    • Photo: Sian Thomas

      Sian Thomas answered on 17 Jun 2016:

      OK – not that I know this directly, but I just looked at the Public Health England sugar report and it says that the main case is to reduce weight gain and associated conditions (presumably heart disease, diabetes and some cancers) and tooth decay. The estimated cost to the NHS is 5.1 billion pounds. Wow!

      But sugar certainly makes food taste good!

    • Photo: Dawn Lau

      Dawn Lau answered on 20 Jun 2016:

      Your body needs sugar (glucose) to survive, because it uses up glucose to convert to energy for your cells. But most scientists and doctors think that our society consumes far too much sugar than is healthy for us.

      Sugar causes a release of signals in your brain that makes you feel good and rewarded, so that you will want more sugar. A study in rats showed that they preferred sugar water over cocaine and they would repeatedly drink the sugary water! Sugar also causes tooth decay, especially when eaten in between meals. It’s a hard choice but we all have to eat less sugar!

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