More than 2,500 years ago, refined sugar was developed in India. But it wasn't until 700 years ago that it made its way into the Mediterranean region, with Cyprus and Sicily becoming centers of production for the rare and expensive spice.

That first taste evolved over the centuries into a global obsession. Today, every American eats more than 152 pounds of added sugar a year. (That’s six full cups a week.)

Do you want to know what that does to your ability to protect and preserve your health?

It keeps your body from taking out the trash.

As a result, you get stuck with garbage that accumulates in and around your cells, contributing to a host of degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, macular degeneration, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

That's what researchers from Tufts University's USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging discovered. A lab study published in the journal Aging Cell found that the protein that is supposed to be able to clear out cells damaged by eating added sugars are themselves injured so they can't do their job.

Sugar delivers a double whammy that causes a buildup of molecules that speed cellular aging. You become prematurely vulnerable to chronic diseases, develop more wrinkles earlier, and damage your gut biome.

If you're craving a sweet treat, opt for fresh fruit and 70% cacao dark chocolate (an ounce a day). That will make life much sweeter (and healthier).