Sugar has gotten a bad reputation in recent years and rightfully so. Sugar has been linked to many metabolic disorders, obesity, cancers and many other preventable diseases. Sugar has a sneaky way of finding its way into our diets. It’s not just in junk food. Reading labels and being able to identify what is in your food is the best way to start reducing sugar in your diet.
Sugar provides no nutritional value, no vitamins and no minerals. Sugar adds calories to foods, and because they provide no sustenance, is the reason sugar calories are referred to as empty calories. Empty calories can lead to weight gain and eventually obesity. Obesity and adolescent obesity are an epidemic in our society. Reducing sugars in the diet can help reduce your BMI and consequently reduce your risk-factor for obesity related illnesses.
Sugar is also associated with insulin resistance which can contribute to type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is also on the rise, most disturbingly in adolescents. Consuming sugary soft drinks and sweets can damage the pancreas and the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Over time, a person who continues to consume large amounts of sugar has a greater chance of developing diabetes compared to others who do not consume diets with large amounts of added sugars.
Sugar intake has been linked in studies to inflammation in the body and higher risks of cancer due to the elevated insulin levels in the body. If the body is constantly battling the negative effects of sugar, how can it protect and heal itself?
Sugar can create dopamine affects in the brain, making it actually seem addictive. When you consume sugary foods, the brain releases the dopamine into the body and you continue to crave it more. Individuals who struggle with addiction or who are prone to addition are more susceptible to this kind reaction.
Sugar is damaging to the body and scientific studies are just now starting to highlight some of the harmful effects. Changing your diet to consume less sugar is a great change for better health now and disease prevention in later years.
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