Sugar: what it does to your body and how to avoid a slump

Glucose prompts insulin release while fructose is processed in the liver, and eating excess added sugar is linked to higher triglycerides and a post-meal dip that can raise calorie intake later in the day.

Sugar remains appealing because our bodies evolved to value energy-dense foods such as honey, but modern availability and lower activity levels mean many people now consume more added sugar than they need. The body reacts to sweetness immediately through taste and reward pathways, and different sugars follow different metabolic routes. Researchers and clinicians quoted in the article emphasise that effects depend on the type of sugar, the wider meal context and individual factors such as genetics and insulin regulation. There is ongoing study into how artificial sweeteners affect the oral and gut microbiome and whether that has longer-term health consequences. What research shows: - Tasting sugar activates reward pathways and dopamine, making sweetness appealing, and genetic factors explain part of variation in sweet perception. - Glucose stimulates insulin release, which helps move glucose into muscle, liver or fat, while fructose is taken to the liver and can be converted to glycogen or, in excess, to fat. - Excess intake of either sugar type can raise blood triglyceride levels, which are associated with higher risk for cardiovascular conditions. - Repeated large insulin peaks may increase levels of inflammation when those peaks are excessive and frequent. - Meta-analyses have not found a consistent short-term mood or behaviour boost from sugar; one analysis also linked carbohydrates to increased fatigue and reduced alertness within the first hour. - Some studies suggest artificial sweeteners may alter the oral and gut microbiome and could be converted to fructose-like compounds; longer-term health effects require more research. Summary: The article presents evidence that sugar triggers immediate physiological responses and that excess added sugar is associated with metabolic effects such as higher triglycerides and post-meal energy dips that can increase daily calorie intake. Individual risk varies by genetics, insulin regulation and overall diet, and researchers note that more study is needed on the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners and on personalized responses to sugars.