How Does Sugar Destroy Our Body?

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Is sugar healthy? Can it really affect the human body? When we talk about added sugar, the answer is yes. Although the sugar industry is actively fighting to change public opinion about the health effects of sugar, today we already know that it affects almost every organ system in our body. And not in a good way. I hope that the latest science of sugar will inspire you to deal with sugar addiction.

Sugar is a silent killer affecting so many aspects of our health. You may be saying to yourself: Okay, I know sugar is not good for me, but I can't stop eating it. One of the main reasons for this is that sugar is incredibly addictive. The more sugar you eat, the more you want to eat and the continuous cycle continues.

Physical sugar starvation

There are several reasons why you have an obsessive craving for sugar:

• nutrient deficiencies: especially chromium, magnesium and zinc;

• unbalanced diet: without enough fat and protein;

• skipping meals and malnutrition;

• consumption of sugars and sweet foods as a daily habit.

These are all physical causes, and there are probably as many, if not more, emotional reasons why we consciously or unconsciously reach for sugar.

Emotional attachments to sugar

There are feelings that we associate with eating sweets, such as feelings of comfort, security, love. Such feelings may have been established because of the pleasant experiences you had around eating sweets or because sugar was your main form of positive relief.

The emotional dependence on sugar (or other foods, or overeating) should be treated with the help of a healthcare professional. Therapy called "Emotional Freedom" is often very successful in this regard. Physical dependence can be resolved by taking nutrients that help balance the need for sugar by helping to regulate the blood sugar control centers in the body.

Here's how sugar destroys your health

In 2014, researchers scientifically proved that the ingestion of too much added sugar can significantly increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In fact, people who get 17 to 21 percent of the calories from added sugar face a 38 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who received only 8 percent of the calories from sugar. The relative risk is more than double for those who consume 21% or more of the added sugar.

Is sugar healthy, especially when it comes to gut health?

Knowing that the microorganisms that live in the gut actually act like a metabolic "organ," researchers now believe that sugar alters the intestinal microflora in a way that increases intestinal permeability. Removing excess added sugar is a key part of any effective bowel cleansing plan. The added sugar nourishes yeast and bad bacteria that can damage the intestinal wall.

This means chronic inflammation, which can lead to the transfer of substances from the gut into the bloodstream. This can cause obesity and other chronic metabolic diseases. A similar study from December 2014 found that sugary sweetened beverages can affect the development of metabolic diseases, as researchers have found that drinkers have shorter telomeres, a sign of reduced longevity and accelerated aging. of cells.

A body prone to diabetes

A 2013 study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that every 150 calories of sugar a person consumed per day (the equivalent of a can of soda) increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 1.1%. This increased risk is valid even if your menu includes other foods (including meat, oils, cereals, high-fiber foods, oils).

The researchers also found that the effect of sugar on diabetes is true regardless of a sedentary lifestyle and alcohol use.

Does sugar affect the risk of cancer?

When the National Institutes of Health began investigating the link between sugar and 24 different types of cancer, they found some links between the different types. sugar and some cancers.

For example, added sugars increase the risk of esophageal cancer, while added fructose appears to increase the risk of small bowel cancer.

Other studies suggest a link between high intake of added sugars and colon cancer. This higher risk remains even after correcting other risk factors for colon cancer, such as overweight, obesity or diabetes.

Dietary sugar may also increase the risk of breast tumors and lung metastases. A 2016 study found that high amounts of dietary sugar in a typical Western diet had the effect of an enzyme signal known as 12-LOX (12-lipoxygenase) in a way that increased the risk of breast cancer.

Effect of sugar on the liver

The liver plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism, removing excess glucose from the bloodstream and storing it for later use.

One of the functions of the liver is to regulate blood sugar levels. Your cells use blood glucose for energy, and the liver takes the excess and stores it in the form of glycogen. When your cells need energy later, as between meals, the liver will release glucose back into the bloodstream.

But the liver can only store a certain amount of glucose, so the rest accumulates as fat in the body.

If you exceed this amount, it is converted into fatty acids and then you get fatty deposits in the liver. This can lead to fatty liver disease - a condition in which your body contains more fat than it can metabolize, leading to accumulation in the liver cells. Sugar is not the only reason, but glycogen storage is a big contribution, as is any weight gain caused by sugar. Fatty liver can develop over a five-year period. But this can happen even faster based on your eating habits and genetic predisposition to insulin resistance. If it progresses, it can lead to liver failure.

Saturating the blood with sugar can damage almost any other organ, as well as the arteries.

Trying to pump blood full of sugar through blood vessels is actually like pumping sludge through a small tube. The pipes will finally get tired. So any area that relies on small blood vessels can be affected - kidneys, brain, eyes, heart. This can lead to chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke if you have high blood pressure.

In addition to luxury anti-aging serums and facial cosmetics, reducing sugar can help skin look younger for longer. Collagen and elastin fibers in the skin are affected by a lot of sugar in the bloodstream, explains dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD. This includes collagen and elastin, the proteins found in connective tissues that are responsible for keeping skin smooth and young. Studies show that glycation makes it difficult for these proteins to recover, leading to wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Another important factor is the added sugars. They may fall under different names on the ingredients labels. Don't be fooled by natural-sounding names. Sweeteners such as cane juice, beet sugar, fruit juice, rice syrup and molasses are still types of sugar.

If you are ready to consume less sugar, just read the food labels. But the main fact is that there is no "right" amount of sugar to consume.

The added sugar is included in so many foods you would never guess (e.g. ketchup, mustard). We encourage people to read the labels and count the grams of sugar, Gradny says. According to the Academy, there is no firm and quick recommendation for daily sugar intake. Good rule of thumb: Always choose the option that contains the least sugar in it. If you have juice or soda, choose water. Choose whole fruits instead of drinking juice - the sugar content is less concentrated and fiber helps the body break it down more efficiently. And choose whole foods that naturally limit the amount of sugar in your diet. The more you stay away from processed foods, the better you will be.

Longing for sugar, have symptoms of sugar withdrawal? When you get it, you probably feel better in a short time. By eating sugar to make you feel better, you have actually made your condition worse.

Make a conscious effort and start reducing your sugar intake today - your body will thank you!