Eating some sugar every now and then is fine. However, many people consume far too much sugar, especially during certain parts of the year. Lots of kids will eat much too much candy after Halloween. Some adults might end up doing the same thing. Adults will often give out candy for Halloween, and then they’ll eat all of the leftover candy themselves. One way or another, it’s important for people to avoid consuming too much sugar. There are lots of health risks attached to the excessive consumption of sugar, even for children.
Diabetes
When people eat a lot of refined carbohydrates, their blood sugar levels will be high. Their insulin levels will become elevated as well. People who constantly have high insulin levels can eventually develop diabetes since they won’t be able to respond to the insulin hormone anymore.
Diabetic patients have chronically high blood sugar as it is. If you’re constantly giving yourself problems with high blood sugar by eating candy, it’s almost as if you’re giving yourself a case of temporary diabetes as it is. Those symptoms can become permanent if you eat too much sugar all the time.
You might think that it’s all right if kids eat a lot of candy because kids are growing and they need a lot of energy. However, it’s still possible for children to develop diabetes. It’s increasingly common for children with unhealthy eating habits to get diabetes today. You’re never too young for a disease like this, and never too old to change your eating habits.
Cancer
Having high insulin levels can contribute to certain types of cancer. The insulin hormone is related to the growth process. Adults have already finished growing. In adults, insulin can contribute to the growth of abnormal cells or cancer. While this is less likely to be a problem with children, it’s possible that excessive insulin can interfere with a child’s growth in other ways. It’s also certainly possible for children to get cancer.
Metabolic Damage
There is evidence that people who constantly eat too much sugar will develop metabolic problems as a result. Your metabolism has a huge effect on your overall health. People with metabolic problems are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, and many similar conditions.
Children are still growing, and their metabolisms will change throughout their young lives. It’s easy to develop permanent metabolic damage at this stage. Adults have bodies that are more stable and consistent from year to year. This is not the case with children, making it particularly important for adults to help children develop healthy habits early in life.
Excessive Hunger
Many people who eat sugar have noticed that they’re energetic for a little while, and then they’re exhausted and hungry. After eating candy, your blood sugar will spike and then fall, at which point you’ll be very hungry. People in this situation are often specifically hungry for other unhealthy foods, and for more sugar. You’ll end up worsening all of the health problems associated with the consumption of sugar in the process.
Managing Your Sugar Intake
Almost any family primary care doctor will say that people of all ages should avoid sugar. At the very least, it’s important to try to manage your sugar consumption. The people who eat sugar along with protein or healthy fat will be less likely to run into problems with high blood sugar, because of the way the body digests protein and fat. Candy typically doesn’t contain any protein or healthy fat, which is one of the reasons why it’s particularly bad for you.
Diamond physicians can help parents educate their children about healthy choices. When working with these physicians, patients will get personalized medical care, and they will reduce their medical expenses. Having the right family primary care doctor has always been important for the patients who want to stay healthy. Avoiding sugar is just as important.