Research shows that people who consumed less sugar in their childhood were healthier later in life. This was investigated by looking at the period just after the Second World War in the United Kingdom. At that time, sugar was rationed, meaning that sugar intake was limited. This created a unique situation to see what less sugar in the diet can do in the long term.
The results show that lower sugar consumption in early life is associated with better health at an older age. People who ate less sugar had slower biological ageing and a lower chance of premature death. Biological ageing is a measure of how the body actually develops, independent of chronological age. This is important because it indicates how healthily someone is ageing.
What makes this research special is that it was able to look at the effect of sugar independently, without it being influenced by the total number of calories. Earlier studies into diet and ageing often only investigated fewer calories in general. Because of this, it was difficult to see precisely what the role of sugar was. Now we know better that restricting sugar can make a positive contribution to a long and healthy life.
For anyone interested in healthy ageing, this is an encouraging result. It highlights the importance of a moderate sugar intake, particularly at a young age. By making conscious choices in the diet, the ageing process can potentially be slowed down and health can be maintained for longer.
Source: Reason
