Added sugars can be found in a variety of foods, from peanut butter to marinara sauce.

Processed foods have become the standard for many people's meals and snacks. Due to their high sugar content, these foods make up a large portion of the average American's daily caloric intake.

In the U.S., adults consume up to 17 percent of total calories from added sugars, compared with 14 percent for children.

Dietary guidelines recommend reducing added sugar intake to less than 10% of daily calories consumed.

High-sugar diets are one of the main suspects in the rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to medical experts.

Here are some reasons why eating too much sugar is bad for your health.

1. Weight gain.

Obesity is on the rise around the world, and researchers believe that added sugar, especially in sugar-sweetened beverages, is the main reason.

Fruit juices, soft drinks, and sweetened teas contain fructose, a simple sugar.

Fructose, the main sugar in starchy foods, increases your nutritional needs and pushes you to eat too much glucose.

When you eat a lot of sugar, your body becomes resistant to leptin, the hormone that tells your body when to stop eating.

2. Cardiovascular disease

Many diseases, including the world's leading cause of death, have been linked to an increased risk of death in people who consume high amounts of sugar in their diets.

Studies have shown that obesity, high triglycerides, inflammation, blood sugar and blood pressure levels all increase the risk of heart disease, all of which are associated with a high-sugar diet.

In addition, excessive sugar consumption has been linked to atherosclerosis, a disease defined by the accumulation of fatty deposits in arteries.

3. Acne

Acne is associated with a diet high in carbohydrates, especially sugary foods and drinks.

Your blood sugar levels rise faster when you eat foods with a high glycemic index, such as: B. Sugary snacks and sodas.

These factors contribute to the development of acne: increased androgen production, increased oil production, and inflammation caused by sugary meals.

Studies have shown that a low-glycemic diet is associated with a lower incidence of acne, but a high-glycemic diet is associated with a higher risk of acne.

4. Type 2 diabetes

Diabetic complications are now more common than ever, having more than doubled in the past three decades.

Although there are many reasons, excess consumption of sugar is associated with an increased risk of diabetes.

People with diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes if they are overweight or obese.

In addition, chronic high-sugar diets can lead to the development of insulin resistance in the pancreas, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.

When you have insulin resistance, your blood sugar levels rise, putting you at a higher risk of developing diabetes.

5. Cancer Risk

Sugar intake is associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

Obesity is a major risk factor for cancer, and a diet high in sugar can lead to obesity.

6. Depression

A diet high in sugar and processed foods can increase the risk of depression.

Those who ate a lot of processed foods such as cakes and sugar-sweetened beverages were more likely to suffer from depression.

According to the researchers, the negative effects of sugar on mental health may be caused by blood sugar fluctuations, neurotransmitter dysregulation and inflammation.