What is sugar and what would happen if I stopped eating it?

Sucrose is used in many processed foods. [iStockphoto]

The world has declared a time-out on sugar consumption. The harmful link between disease and dietary sugar was recently outlined in a comprehensive assessment of published studies.

Recognising this link between widely consumed food and disease is essential in marshalling forces to change harmful outcomes. These include coronary heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and some cancers. For over a decade, my research has focused on the mechanisms by which fructose intake plays into disease.