Sugar: the Real Health Threat?

According to an Article publish in Nature by Dr. Robert Lustig's research team, "global consumption of sugar is primarily responsible for a whole range of chronic diseases that are reaching epidemeic levels around the world." (San Franciso Chronicle)

Excessive sugar, he argues, alters people's biochemistry, making them more vulnerable to metabolic conditions that lead to illness, while at the same time making people crave sweets even more.
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It's sugar, not obesity, that is the real health threat
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"The gestalt shift is maybe obesity is just a marker for the rise in chronic disease worldwide, and in fact metabolic syndrome, caused by excessive sugar consumption, is the real culprit,"

Americans eat and drink roughly 22 teaspoons(!!!) of sugar every day, according to the same article. Also, "erms that identify sugars on labels include sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, hydrolysed starch and invert sugar, corn syrup and honey." So if one believes about the theory above, one should also know where to look for the information of sugar in daily life.
Interesting enough,

In response to the study, the food and beverage industries said in statements that sugar cannot be blamed for high rates of chronic disease in the United States and elsewhere.
Comparing sugar to alcohol and tobacco is "simply without scientific merit," the American Beverage Association said. "There is no evidence that focusing solely on reducing sugar intake would have any meaningful public health impact."

According to healingdaily.com, "The average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week". It summarizes a list of ways sugar can affect one's health as follows.

• suppress the immune system.
• upset the body's mineral balance.
• contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
• produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
• cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
• reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
• promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
• cause hypoglycemia.
• contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
• cause kidney damage.
• increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• may lead to chromium deficiency.
• cause copper deficiency.
• interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
• increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
• promote tooth decay.
• produce an acidic stomach.
• raise adrenaline levels in children.
• lead to periodontal disease.
• speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
• increase total cholesterol.
• contribute to weight gain and obesity.
• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• contribute to diabetes.
• contribute to osteoporosis.
• cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
• leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
• cause cardiovascular disease.
• increase systolic blood pressure.
• causes food allergies.
• cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
• cause toxemia during pregnancy.
• contribute to eczema in children.
• overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
• cause atherosclerosis.
• compromise the lining of the capillaries.
• cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
• increase the amount of fat in the liver.
• increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
• cause depression.
• increase the body's fluid retention.
• cause hormonal imbalance.
• cause hypertension.
• cause headaches, including migraines.
• cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
• increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
• increase insulin responses in those consuming high-diets compared to low diets.
• increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

While this list sounds over intimidating, even over exaggerating, healingcancernaturally.com gives an even longer list, in the article "Sugar’s Health Effects, Risks & Problems: Is Sugar Sweet Poison?--146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health".