October 21, 2025
Sugar is everywhere, and it can be found in just about anything, from instant oatmeal to white bread, and even ketchup. It’s hard to avoid, and even when you try, it can be a challenge to stop partaking of it. The temptation of sugar is everywhere. So, what’s the deal with sugar? In this article, you will learn what refined sugar is, where it can be found, and whether refined sugar is bad for you and your health.
What is Refined Sugar?
Refined sugar is a processed form of sugar. You may know it as table sugar. When you’re in the grocery store, you can identify it by its appearance. It is usually white, crystallized, and easily soluble in liquid. It’s often labeled as granulated sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or confectioners’ sugar. Refined sugar is usually added to processed, nutrient-poor foods.
Refined sugar is made by extracting the juice from sugar cane or sugar beets. The juice is then clarified, evaporated, and crystallized. Then, the molasses is removed by spinning the sugar crystals in a device called a centrifuge. Afterward, they are filtered with carbon to remove impurities and make the sugar whiter. Finally, the sugar crystals are dried and packaged.
As you can see, the sugar is processed and goes through a series of steps that change the sugar from it’s God-designed form. Refined, processed sugar is devoid of it’s natural, God-given “impurities” and substances, like molasses.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12
Is Refined Sugar Bad for Your Health?
The simple answer is yes, refined sugar is bad for your health. Refined sugar is often compared to drugs because it is addictive and can release dopamine in the body, causing it to want more sugar. Refined sugar is also linked to excess belly fat, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Foods sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup can cause the body to be resistant to leptin, a hormone that is responsible for appetite control and tells the body when it’s time to stop eating.
Refined sugars can impair memory and contribute to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It can trigger acne and premature aging. It can cause gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. Refined sugar triggers low-grade chronic inflammation in the body and can cause gout and kidney stones.
It worsens joint pain and stiffness, and can contribute to arthritis. It can disrupt the gut microbiome and suppress the immune system, making illness frequent. It can also cause leaky gut, which is when there is an increase in the permeability of the intestinal barrier, allowing harmful substances to pass into the bloodstream triggering systemic inflammation.
Refined sugar can contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance, as well as liver disease, depression, possible ADHD, and even certain types of cancer. It can also impact eyesight and contribute to cataracts, glaucoma, and damage to the retina (Diabetic Retinopathy).
As you can see, refined/processed sugar can actually cause more harm than good in the human body. It is a man-made substance, not something that God created or intended for humans to consume. The great news is, however, that God designed our bodies to heal, so removing refined sugar from your diet can play a part when it comes to reversing or reducing symptoms caused by sugar. Combine this with the healing power of Jesus, and you are good to go!
…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [a]stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
Foods That Have Refined Sugar
There are many foods that contain refined sugar. Breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt, instant oatmeal, and pastries are some places you’d find sugar at breakfast time. Sodas, sports drinks, and juices are common beverages that contain sugar. Processed meats, white bread, and pasta are common American staples that contain refined sugar.
Most bagged, boxed, or frozen prepared foods will contain sugar. You most likely know that there is processed sugar in cookies, cakes, pies, candy, and ice cream, but beware of ketchup, salad dressing, pasta sauce, and BBQ sauce because they also often contain sugar. Check spices like your Lawry’s seasoned salt, too.
You may realize that most of the foods in the Standard American Diet contain some kind of refined and processed sugar. You are right! So, what can you do? Focus on whole foods that God created and eat them as close to the way He designed them as possible. This means you focus on whole fruits and vegetables and fresh meat that hasn’t been precooked or preseasoned, or breaded. Include nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, etc. Focus on what God made and prepare it yourself so that you know what is in your food. Avoid processed foods because they are the common culprits for harmful ingredients. Be sure to read labels when you go grocery shopping. This will allow you to make informed decisions before you purchase the food. Whole fruits and raw, unfiltered organic honey are the sweet treats that God has given us, so try replacing refined sugar with God’s natural sugars.
Wrapping Up: Is Refined Sugar Bad for Your Health?
Refined sugar is everywhere. Sometimes it’s obvious and easy to spot, but there are other times when it’s hidden in plain sight. Refined sugar is harmful to the human body and can contribute to many diseases and health issues that are common in the world today. Fortunately, we all get a choice and you get to decide what is best for you. Remember that many health issues stem from substances like refined sugar, refined flour, and seed oils, so begin by removing these things from your diet as you seek God for healing. Removing or simply reducing the amount of processed sugar in your diet is a great first step in the right direction on your health journey.
Whether you desire to break a sugar addiction, remove sugar from your diet, learn to read labels, or if you are seeking healing in your body, remember that nothing is too hard for God. He will help you if you ask Him.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7