Consuming large amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates has long been associated with problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health conditions. These effects were extensively documented by Weston A. Price in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, in which he compared the health of genetically similar populations around the world. In each case, Dr. Price observed that groups who remained isolated and continued to eat traditional diets showed strong dental health and bone structure, while members of the same ethnic groups who adopted a more “civilized” diet high in sugar and refined starches exhibited marked physical degeneration. This pattern was consistent across all populations he studied. More recent research offers possible biological insight into these observations. A study published in PLoS Genetics (2009; 5(3):e1000408) reported that researchers at the Université de Montréal were able to extend the lifespan of yeast cells by reducing the amount of sugar they consumed. Yeast cells were used because they share key aging pathways with human cells. The authors suggested that their findings support a link between sugar consumption, cellular aging, and age-related disease processes.
Eating Sugar Shortens Your Life
