150+ adverse health effects of refined sugar intake

Draft copy. Last update: 6/4/24.

  1. Sugar can suppress the immune system. [1]
  2. Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.[2]
  3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.[3]
  4. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.[4]
  5. Sugar can adversely affect children's school grades.[5]
  6. Sugar can product a significant rise in triglycerides.[6]
  7. Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.[7]
  8. Sugar can cause kidney damage.[8]
  9. Sugar can reduce helpful high density lipoproteins (HDLs).[9]
  10. Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful low density lipoproteins (LDLs).[10]
  11. Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.[11]
  12. Sugar can lead to copper deficiency.[12]
  13. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.[13]
  14. Sugar may lead to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, and rectum.[14]
  15. Sugar can cause colon cancer, with an increased risk in women.[15]
  16. Sugar can be a risk factor in gall bladder cancer.[16]
  17. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.[17]
  18. Sugar can weaken eyesight.[18]
  19. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which can narrow blood vessels.[19]
  20. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.[20]
  21. Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.[21]
  22. Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.[22]
  23. Sugar malabsorption is common in those with functional bowel disease.[23]
  24. Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.[24]
  25. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.[25]
  26. Sugar can promote tooth decay.[26]
  27. Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.[27]
  28. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease.[28]
  29. Sugar can cause a raw, inflamed intestinal tract in persons with gastric or duodenal ulcers.[29]
  30. Sugar can cause arthritis.[30]
  31. Sugar can cause asthma.[31]
  32. Sugar can cause candidiasis (yeast infection).[32]
  33. Sugar can lead to the formation of gallstones.[33]
  34. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.[34]
  35. Sugar can cause ischemic heart disease.[35]
  36. Sugar can cause appendicitis.[36]
  37. Sugar can exacerbate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.[37]
  38. Sugar can indirectly cause hemorrhoids.[38]
  39. Sugar can cause varicose veins.[39]
  40. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.[40]
  41. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.[41]
  42. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.[42]
  43. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.[43]
  44. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.[44]
  45. Sugar can cause decreased glucose tolerance.[45]
  46. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.[46]
  47. Sugar can increase cholesterol.[47]
  48. Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.[48]
  49. Sugar can change the structure of protein, causing interference with protein absorption.[49]
  50. Sugar causes food allergies.[50]
  51. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.[51]
  52. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.[52]
  53. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.[53]
  54. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.[54]
  55. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA.[55]
  56. Sugar can cause cataracts.[56]
  57. Sugar can cause emphysema.[57]
  58. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.[58]
  59. Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.[59]
  60. Sugar lowers the enzymes' ability to function.[60]
  61. Sugar can cause loss of tissue elasticity and function.[61]
  62. Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.[62]
  63. Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.[63]
  64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.[64]
  65. Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.[65]
  66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.[66]
  67. Sugar can cause constipation.[67]
  68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).[68]
  69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.[69]
  70. Sugar can cause tendons to become brittle.[70]
  71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.[71]
  72. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves, which can altern the mind's ability to think clearly.[72]
  73. Sugar can cause depression.[73]
  74. Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low-sugar diets.[74]
  75. Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.[75]
  76. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.[76]
  77. Sugar can cause blood platelet adhesiveness, which causes blood clots.[77]