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The Uses & Disadvantages of Sugar

Sugar sweetens up many things in our daily lives, but it can be used for so much more than baking. When added with other ingredients, it can be used as a pest control or plant enhancer. It is important, however, to use the sweetener with caution because too much can have detrimental effects.

  1. Pest Control

    • Sugar can provide an effective way to rid your home of common household pests with a sweet tooth. The methods are different depending on the pest. For a wasp trap, boil two ounces of sugar and a little water in a pan until the mixture produces a sticky substance. Pour it into a jar or onto a dish and leave the homemade trap in an open area. A similar trick can be used to kill cockroaches. Blend sugar with baking powder and place the concoction on your counter top. For flies, boil water, sugar and pepper together and pour into a bowl.

      The insects are attracted to the sugar but they meet their doom because they can't escape or they're poisoned by the other ingredients in the mixture.

    Plant Enhancer

    • If your outdoor plants look unhealthy, check out their roots. If you notice small lumps, then your garden may be suffering from a nematode infection. These tiny worms especially like the roots of tuberous plants like carrots and potatoes. To solve this problem, mix a few handfuls of sugar into the soil around the infected plants. This quick fix increases the amount of bacteria in the soil, which in turn fights the nematodes.

    Overweight and Obesity

    • Sugar in your diet is fine in moderation but it is important to keep an eye on your intake. Too much sugar is not healthy, and diets high in sugar have been linked to chronic disease. Because sugar has a high calorie count, it is hard to work off with exercise. Calories that are not burned are then stored as fat, which can lead to weight problems or obesity.

    Diabetes

    • Obesity can cause type two diabetes, in which the body loses its ability to make enough insulin. Insulin is needed to keep blood sugar levels within the normal range; without it, sugar in your blood can rise to dangerously high levels. According to Obesity.org, more than 200,000 people die each year because of diabetes and related complications.

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