10 Things You Didn’t Know About Sugar

1. Sugar used to be a luxury item
   In the 1600s, it was so rare and expensive that only royalty and the ultra‑rich could afford it.

2. Your brain treats sugar like a reward drug
   It activates the same dopamine pathways associated with pleasure and habit‑forming behaviors.

3. Sugar hides under 50+ different names
   From “evaporated cane juice” to “maltose,” companies disguise it to make labels look healthier.

4. Fruit sugar and added sugar behave differently
   Whole fruit comes with fiber, slowing absorption — added sugar hits your bloodstream fast.

5. Sugar can weaken your immune system temporarily
   High intake can reduce white blood cell activity for several hours.

6. It’s in foods you’d never expect
   Bread, salad dressing, pasta sauce, yogurt, crackers — even “healthy” foods often contain added sugar.

7. Sugar ages your skin faster
   Through a process called glycation, sugar binds to collagen and makes skin less elastic.

8. Your body doesn’t need added sugar
   It needs glucose, but it can make that from protein and complex carbs — added sugar is optional.

9. Sugar can disrupt your sleep
   Spikes and crashes in blood sugar can cause nighttime wake‑ups and restless sleep.

10. Artificial sweeteners don’t solve the problem
    They can still trigger cravings and confuse your body’s hunger signals.