Essay Sample about Eating Too Much Sugar

Have you ever wondered why you feel so tired, gross, and overall unwell after eating a big dessert?  The average American consumes about 57 pounds of added sugar each year. But what's the harm? Sugar is put into many foods we eat to make what we eat sweeter, to be used as a preservative, to help modify textures, to make new flavors and colors, and so many more reasons. Many do not realize they can be consuming too much sugar without even eating any desserts or candy. There are hidden sugars put into cereal, beverages, condiments, breads, sauces, and everyday snacks. How does this affect us in the long run though? Consuming too much sugar can cause countless short term, and long term negative effects on our body, mood, and mind

One of the biggest problems concerning too much sugar intake is how it damages the body physically. It can cause many health issues. An article by Kris Gunnars about the negative effects of sugar says, “Excess sugar consumption has been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, tooth decay, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and more”. Hughes from the article “How Does Too Much Sugar Affect Your Body?” explains this about how sugar affects outward appearance. “Excess sugar attaches to proteins in your bloodstream and creates harmful molecules called “AGEs,” or advanced glycation end products. These molecules do exactly what they sound like they do: age your skin. They have been shown to damage collagen and elastin in your skin -- protein fibers that keep your skin firm and youthful.”. These two articles explain the negative physical aspects of sugar. On one side, sugar can cause diabetes, obesity and other diseases. Not only that, but it can take a toll on the skin and outward appearance. 

Not only does sugar affect the body physically, it also affects the body emotionally. It can cause problems in the brain that could cause potential mental health issues. An article from Max Living states,“ One review of numerous studies confirmed that sugar has an adverse effect on long-term psychological health, including depression and anxiety. Researchers see a parallel between increased sugar intake and mood disorders.”. Another section of the article confirms this by explaining “Eating too much sugar can also increase inflammation, which plays a role in numerous diseases. Researchers surmise that inflammation triggers or exacerbates depression since people with major depressive disorder often have increased inflammatory markers. Other studies show that inflammation contributes to anxiety and fear.”. Therefore proving too much sugar can affect the brain and cause mental illnesses and disorders, which can be dangerous and harmful. 

Some know sugar can have these undesirable effects on the body and mood but many do not know how it can cause problems in the brain, such as addictions, deficiencies, and other disorders. An article from the “Texas Institute for Neurological Disorders'' affirms this by saying, “However, a high sugar diet can lead to excess glucose in the brain and studies have linked excess glucose consumption to memory and cognitive deficiencies. Another reason sugar is harmful  to the brain is because it affects certain neurotransmitters which can result in sugar addictions.”. Also an article “Your anxiety loves sugar” says “...people who are consuming high amounts of sugar in their diets can similarly experience the physiological sensation of withdrawal if they suddenly stop consuming sugar”, and later on in the article it also states, “Suddenly stopping sugar intake can mimic withdrawal and feel like a panic attack,”. When sugar gets to the brain, it can cause complications. Therefore, it’s best to steer clear of sugar to avoid addition, withdrawals, and other physiological issues.

Some may argue consuming sugar can be of benefit, because it can cause insulin to rise, causing energetic feelings and it could help getting through the day. 

Maybe so, but these effects are short term, temporary, and cause more issues than initially. The article “Sugar Overload Effects: Eating Too Much Sugar.” explains this by saying, “These highs and lows can make it extremely difficult to concentrate, and result in “brain fog.” They also drain you of energy”. Therefore disproving this idea that too much sugar can actually be beneficial. It might be a short term solution for tiredness but it results in worse circumstances for energy and the body.

Sugar ultimately can cause disease, cancers, and physical limitations. It can affect outer appearance, causing wrinkles and bad skin. It can increase inflammation in the brain causing mental illnesses to worsen or even appear where there was not any before. Such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Not only that, but sugar causes many physiological issues. Memory loss, cognitive deficiencies, strong addiction, are just some of the problems reported with overconsumption of sugar. It drains energy and leaves the body wanting more. 

Immoderate sugar use can have devastating impacts on a person’s mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Remember to use sugar in moderation and pay attention to food labels. This can help regulate sugar consumption and ensure safety to the body, mind, and mood.