Healthy is trendy. Superfoods such as quinoa, chia and matcha are not only conquering the refrigerated shelves of supermarkets, but also the kitchens of Germans. With so much eco-power, sugar has a hard time. It is considered unhealthy and harmful. It’s time to take a stand for the white stuff, because not everything said about sugar is true. We tell you which sugar myths are true and which belong to the realm of legend.
10 sugar myths put to the test
1. Sugar is unhealthy and unnecessary
That’s not true. Sugar is an important supplier of energy and the human brain alone needs about 140 grams of sugar a day. Of this, 80 to 90 grams are consumed through normal food. You shouldn’t give up sugar entirely. But keep in mind: Many foods contain sugar. So you don’t have to eat extra chocolate to meet the daily requirement. Sugar is like everything else in life. It shouldn’t be too much. You can find out in which foods sugar is hidden in our guide .
2. Sugar causes diabetes
Not correct. No study has yet found a link between high sugar consumption and diabetes. It is not true that sugar is directly responsible for diabetes. Rather, it has been proven that obesity (obesity) can lead to diabetes. However, sugar contains a lot of calories and can lead to obesity and an increased risk of diabetes if you eat the wrong food. You can find more information about sugar and diabetes in our guide .
3. Sugar makes you fat
Which brings us to the next myth. Yes, sugar is high in calories. And yes, sugar can lead to weight gain when consumed in excess. But so can fat. Those who do without sugar but only eat fatty foods also increase their risk of diabetes. So sugar is not responsible for excessive weight gain. This is caused, among other things, by poor nutrition and insufficient exercise.
4. Sugar is bad for your teeth
It’s correct. Just as bad as any other food. But not worse either! Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that break down food leftovers between the teeth and excrete acids in the process. Sugar itself does not attack the enamel. In fact, brushing your teeth too infrequently is the most common cause of tooth decay. Read our detailed guide to well-groomed teeth .
5. Glucose is healthy
That’s not true. Glucose is nothing but glucose. And glucose is pure sugar. Although glucose goes into the brain quickly and can indeed provide a short-term energy boost, this boost is only very short. The release of insulin from the body, on the other hand, lasts much longer. As a result, it often happens that you feel significantly weaker after the brief high.
