What ingredient in almost every processed food Increases your risk for obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, exacerbates arthritis and asthma, raises triglyceride levels, leaves you susceptible to yeast infections, negatively impacts virtually every aspect of your health and was found to be the ONLY cause of tooth decay?

Researchers from University College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analyzed public health records from around the world and found sugar, in any form, decays your teeth, which in turn erodes your health. The UK study pinpointed sugar as the only culprit in tooth decay.

The study, published in BMC Health, showed when sugar was rationed in Japan during World War II, tooth decay in Japan was “hugely reduced.” When sugar imports and consumption in Japan rose back to pre-war levels tooth decay increased back to previous levels as well.

Other important information in the study came from studies in Nigeria. Sugar consumption in Nigeria is extremely minimal and so is tooth decay. Only 2% of Nigerians have tooth decay.

America is the land of sugar with the majority of sugar coming from sodas, fruit juices and processed sweet “treats.” What a treat, eat this and have your teeth rot. 92% of American adults have tooth decay and 60% to 90% of American children have tooth decay. When we eat like our parents and continue those patterns as adults, we end up with the same health problems as our parents. In most cases we are told, and want to believe, it’s genetic predisposition.

Tooth decay ranks among the most common causes of non-infectious, inflammatory diseases in the world. Scientists believe bacteria in your mouth can enter into your bloodstream and attack all your major organs. Different forms of bacteria can cause heart attack, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis and, for pregnant women, premature birth.

The study’s researchers are recommending a disciplined cutback in sugar consumption. “This (the research findings) means that it is now even more important to develop a radical prevention policy with a marked reduction in sugar intake since the use of fluoride on its own is insufficient to reduce substantially the burden (of cavities) over the lifetime of the individual.”

In another study, a team of scientists at Cambridge University tracked the diets of 25,000 people for 11 years. They found for every 5% increase in daily calories from sugary drinks, subjects risk for developing diabetes increased 18%. Dr. Nita Forouhi, the lead author of the study said, “We were able to study beverages, including sweetened tea or coffee, sweetened milk drinks, artificially sweetened beverages and juice. And, examine what would happen if they were substituted for water.”

So, what were the results, how much was the decrease and how many sodas per day did it take?

They found replacing sugar-sweetened drinks with water, coffee or tea helped lower the odds of contracting type 2 diabetes by up to 25%. How much of these drinks did the subjects have to cut out?

The researchers only swapped out one sweetened drink a day to see these results. If you’re old enough, you probably remember the term “sugar diabetes.” The sugar industry effectively killed that about 1970.

Larry R. Miller has been a freelance writer on health, fitness and anti-aging since 1982.