How Sugar Affects your Body

You know sugar is bad for your teeth and waistline, but a growing body of research suggests that the negative impact of sugar, from appetite to heart health, is far more significant than previously thought.

According to the Canadian Department of Agriculture, the average Canadian consumes 110.0 grams of sugar per day, the equivalent of 26 teaspoons. Multiply that over 365 days and that is 88 pounds of sugar per year!  Not only does the average person underestimates just how much sugar they consume, many assume that sugar’s effect on the body is purely weight-related.  In truth, weight loss and weight management are just two reasons to decrease the amount of sugar in your diet.  The key is to understand exactly how sugar affects the human body.

Which of these sugar effects will be the added motivation you need to decrease the sugar in your diet?

 

Impairs Memory:

Researchers at UCLA found that fructose may actually damage memory and slow learning. Results of studies indicate that sugar can affect connections in the brain and have a detrimental effect on these functions.  While the study also found that Omega 3s can help negate those effects, you are still better off to avoid sugar whenever possible.

 

Increases Appetite:

While it’s true that sugar is little more than empty calories that have a tendency to add up to extra pounds on the scale, researchers are also finding that it may trigger you to eat even more calories! A preliminary study from Yale found evidence that fructose may actually increase appetite by interfering with the body’s satiety hormones

 

Increases Risk of Heart Disease:

Over the years, saturated fat has earned notoriety as a cause of heart disease but research is showing that sugar can have a big impact on heart health as well. In fact, recent studies indicate that at certain levels, sugar intake may even double the risk of heart disease.  Hypotheses for this increased risk include:  sugar’s effect on weight, blood pressure, triglycerides and even a negative impact on insulin.

 

Creates Breeding Ground for Bacteria:

Even if you brush, floss and rinse, if you eat sugar you may be doing some serious damage to your teeth and gums. Eating sugar increases the acididy in your mouth, creating a perfect environment for bacteria.  These increased bacteria can wreak havoc on tooth enamel and cause plaque and gingivitis that may even progress to periodontal disease.

 

Increased risk of developing diabetes:

This effect of sugar on the body may seem like a no brainer but until recently there was limited evidence that sugar played a direct role in diabetes. After examining sugar availability in food supplies and diabetes rates in the population of 175 countries, scientists found a direct correlation between rising levels of sugar in the food supply and rising rates of diabetes, independent of obesity rates.

 

Increases Joint Inflammation:

Chronic inflammation caused by processed sugars and other refined carbohydrates has been shown to have various negative effects on the body from increased risk of heart disease to muscle and joint pain.

 

Energy Levels:

Simple carbohydrates, like sugar, are processed quickly by the body can cause blood sugar to spike and then crash. As blood sugar crashes, so does energy.  On the other hand, complex carbohydrates like whole grains, are processed slower by the body for steady and long-lasting energy.

Created October 29, 2014 | Category: Health News and Tips