What Are The Dangers Of Sugar In The Diet?

Sugar is a nutrient that provides energy to the body. Dietary sugar from carbohydrates such as grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables is converted to glucose in the liver, released into the blood and fuels the nerve cells in the brain, according to the Franklin Institute Online. Too much sugar in the diet can be dangerous. Sugar can affect a myriad of biological functions in the body and cause various medical conditions.

High Blood Sugar

Too much dietary sugar or consumption of foods with a high glycemic index, such as refined breads, can increase blood sugar. The glycemic index indicates how foods influence blood sugar, according to Harvard Medical School. High blood sugar can cause skeletal muscle cells to become resistant to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas that transports blood sugar to the cells. Insulin resistance is associated with type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar that stays high for a long period of time, especially in diabetics, can cause narrowing of arteries and eventual coma, according to the American Diabetes Association. The Franklin Institute Online says that too much dietary sugar at one time can deprive the brain of glucose, deplete its energy supply and affect the brain's ability to concentrate, remember and learn.

Obesity

Dietary sugars, particularly table sugar and high fructose corn syrup, can cause weight gain and obesity, according to Robert Lustig, M.D., a pediatric neuroendocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Dietary sugar is converted into fat in the body. The more sugar that's consumed, the more fat is created and stored in fat cells. Dietary sugar, particularly from foods with a high glycemic index, can cause the brain to feel hungry for more sugar. Table sugar and high fructose corn syrup are used extensively in soft drinks, fast foods and processed foods. Research by M.E. Bocarsly published in "Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior" demonstrates that overconsumption of high fructose corn syrup contributes to the incidence of obesity. It can also cause increased weight gain and body fat, particularly in the abdomen, and elevated fat counts in the blood.

Tooth Decay

Sucrose, also called table sugar, in the diet causes tooth decay, according to Truestar Health & Healthnotes. Oral bacteria on teeth feed off of sucrose and cause tooth decay. Sticky foods with sucrose that stay in contact with teeth cause more plaque to form. Dental caries are associated with higher daily sugar intake, according to research by C.S. Rodrigues published in the "International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry."

Pancreatic Cancer

Sugar in the diet can also cause pancreatic cancer. Research by D.S. Michaud published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute" in 2002 discovered that a diet with a high glycemic load can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in women who have an underlying degree of insulin resistance. Research by S.C. Larsson published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2006 found that high consumption of sugar and high-sugar foods, including soft drinks, is associated with a greater risk of pancreatic cancer.