Why Cutting Back On Sugar Could Better Your Health

If you’re going to cut back on sugar, you might as well lay off the sweeteners, too

Those with a sweet tooth who are trying to cut back on sugar may have found hope in studies that tout the healing power of honey or the antioxidant benefits of maple syrup. Ignore them, says Andrea D’Ambrosio, a registered dietitian in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON.“All sugar – whether it’s honey, maple syrup or molasses – provides energy in the form of calories but not a significant amount of other nutrients,” she says. “Sugar is sugar, so it’s best used in moderation, no matter what form it takes.”

You might be addicted

Though some researchers quibble with the idea that sugar is addictive, studies have shown that the sweet stuff elevates levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which forms a key part of the brain’s reward and pleasure centres, in a way that’s remarkably similar to the effects of tobacco and morphine.“There’s growing evidence that sugar leads to cravings and withdrawal, which are the hallmarks of addictive disorders,” says Laura A. Schmidt, a professor of health policy in the school of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). “You can see the effects on an MRI.”Now, Australian researchers have discovered that drugs used to treat nicotine and cocaine addiction, such as varenicline, could be used to help so-called sugar addicts kick their habit as well.

Sweet treats are bad for your teeth

As you sip a sweet coffee shop beverage, you are fueling bacteria. You see, bacteria that exist naturally in your mouth thrive on sugar, which provides them with energy. Those micro-organisms multiply, creating a film of plaque on the surface of your teeth.The plaque produces an acid that dissolves the minerals that comprise the hard surface of your teeth. The longer plaque builds up, the worse the damage.Tiny holes eventually appear and expand until they become cavities.

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