With the influx of health and wellness information that is at our fingertips these days, it is easy to get overwhelmed with what is healthy and what is unhealthy. However, one thing many people can agree on is that too much-processed sugar can have negative effects on your health.
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate and is naturally occurring in many foods such as fruits, but it can also be unnecessarily added to products to make them sweeter, such as sodas and cookies. While naturally occurring sugars such as in fruits are good for you, as these foods come with numerous nutrients, the processed, Health Risks of Added Sugar can lead to health risks. These include diabetes, weight gain, or tooth cavities, among other things.
Added sugars give you no nutritional value like naturally occurring sugars do. Sugars also add empty calories, which will increase the number of calories overall in the food.
Added sugars, since they have no nutritional value, are digested quickly and are not a viable energy source, either. In contrast, naturally occurring sugars are digested slower by the body, therefore giving them more energy. In addition, foods with naturally occurring sugars usually contain additional vitamins and minerals that the body needs that aid in healthy living.
The average American consumes nearly three times the recommended amount of calories from added sugars a day. Food with empty calories can also counteract the healthful food eaten throughout the day and can eventually lead to nutrient deficiencies.
As mentioned, added sugars add unnecessary calories that do not give the body lasting energy. The lack of energy will lead to the consumption of more nutrient-dense food. Therefore, a person will consume more calories when they consume empty calories. Over time, this calorie surplus can lead to weight gain.
There is also evidence that a high-sugar and high-fat diet can also lead to leptin resistance, which is used to regulate hunger. In addition, reducing the intake of added sugars may be able to reverse leptin resistance.
Although obesity is not directly related to the consumption of added sugars, it may play a role in weight gain.
Although sugar alone is not the cause of diabetes, consuming high-sugar foods can lead to a high-calorie diet, which may increase the risk for type 2 diabetes.
In particular, people who drink sugary drinks, such as sodas, can be at a particularly higher risk for developing diabetes than others. It is important to limit your consumption of sugary drinks to ensure healthy living.
Cavities are caused by tooth decay, which can be caused by sugar. After eating sugar, a layer of plaque may form over the teeth, caused by bacteria. This bacteria can interact with sugars found in food and drinks, which, when combined, create an acid that damages teeth.
While your body can repair some of this damage itself, eventually this can cause lasting damage, including cavities, or permanent holes in the teeth.
Practicing good oral hygiene and limiting your sugar intake can be effective in preventing this.
Finally, sugary diets may increase your risk of heart disease. Studies show that people that consume a high amount of added sugars are more likely to die from heart disease than those who consume less.
Like diabetes, sugary drinks may be particularly responsible for this. This may be due to the fact that sugary drinks are high in calories and sugars and do not affect hunger as foods do.
While many natural sugars are unavoidable and beneficial to your health, added sugars can be harmful in consumed in large quantities. Risks of an excessively sugary diet can include diseases, tooth decay, and weight gain.
While avoiding added and processed sugars will aid in a healthy lifestyle, it is important to take care of yourself in other ways as well. Taking care of your mind and body is important for healthy living. Practicing self-care, such as massages with Maria’s Professional Massage, can also ensure that you are living your best and healthiest life.
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