Many young people consume excessive amounts of sugar every day. Some as much as 20 teaspoons, which far exceeds recommended limits for teens. Top sugary sources include beverages, desserts, and sweetened cereals. The problem is that sugar can build up to health problems like heart disease or even type 2 diabetes. While treats with lots of added sugar may be delicious, they can harm you and you might not know it.

 According to Megan Gallahair, a registered and licensed dietitian in the state of Georgia, “If you’re having excess sugar,  things like a lot of cookies, a lot of soda, It can lead to weight gain, cardiovascular issues, diabetes after a long period of time, and  also create brain fog.”

Sugar is not entirely bad if you do not eat excessive amounts of it, a little bit of sugar can actually benefit you by giving you energy for the day. 

 Gallahair also mentioned, “A lot of people think about protein for energy, but protein is actually, for muscle building, and carbohydrate is where we get our main source of energy. We actually really need a lot of carbohydrates in our day to day life.” 

 When you first look in your pantry you might reach for a sugary snack, but to make sure you are getting the right amount of sugar everyday you can choose to eat an alternative like fruits and berries. Alternatives are better for you and still delicious!

  Aanya Chavda, a 7th grade communications major states,“I like baking from scratch because it is healthier and it tastes better. Usually I have some alternatives but I do eat regular snacks as well. ”

You should always be conscious of how much sugar you take in, so that your body can regulate normally. When you eat any kind of sugar you should always balance it out with healthy fats to prevent your sugar from spiking. Sugar is good for your body, but too much of it can lead to stressful problems.

According to Gallahair “ if you’re eating fruits, balance it out with a protein or a healthy fat, and that will help stabilize the sugar in your bloodstream, and it won’t spike the sugar.  So if you’re eating an apple, maybe you have some cheese with it, or if you’re having a banana, maybe have some peanut butter to go with it as well.”

Having sugar is not bad, but having too much sugar is not good, it is all about the balance. So next time you go to the store or look in your pantry, remember that sugar is okay too have, just maybe get a healthier snack.