Then, we were told to
cut back on sugar because researchers linked it to obesity, type-2 diabetes and
many complications related to these disorders.
In 2016, the general
advice is to drop sugar from your diet altogether.
This is, of course,
tricky because many of us have a sweet tooth, thanks to diets that are rich in
that sugary taste we crave. The more sugar we have eaten over the years, the
more our body craves it now. It doesn't help that pastries, cakes, glazed
donuts, ice cream and many others seem to be right in our path as we shop with
healthy intention for the foods we have been told make up the optimal diet. It's just the way
things are.
Reports reveal the
average person in the United States consumes more than 126 grams of sugar
daily, which is almost twice the average sugar intake of all 54 countries.
Additionally, 126
grams is two times more than the recommended daily intake, which the World
Health Organization designates to be 50 grams daily for people of normal
weight.
Eliminating sugar
from your diet could save you from a multitude of health problems in the
future.
But is eliminating
sugar from your diet even a practical recommendation?
Perhaps a better
strategy would be take smaller steps and focus on decreasing your intake of
sugar.
The following are ten
reasons why you should consider eliminating or decreasing, significantly, sugar
from your diet:
Depression and Sugar
Intake
Sugar is on
Prevention's list of 5 foods that cause depression - and for good reason.
Multiple studies have suggested that there is a link between a diet rich in
sugar and depression.
It's important to
remember that the foods you eat don't just release their nutrients, sugars, and
calories into your belly and thighs; they also send them up to your brain.
Obesity and Sugar
Intake
Sugar has been
referred to as the new tobacco.
Sugar is loaded with
empty calories (energy) that your body stores for later days. Only, the later
days never come and eventually all that built-up energy is turned into fat.
Blood Pressure and
Sugar Intake
More and more
American's are being diagnosed with high blood pressure, and Mayo Clinic
suggest that a poor diet is one of the biggest risk factors.
The more sugar you
eat, the more your bad cholesterol levels can increase resulting in hardening
of the arteries and increases in blood pressure.
Heart Disease and
Sugar Intake
It doesn't matter how
much you weigh, consuming more sugar just improves your chances of developing
heart disease and having a heart attack.
Figures in the past have
shown that people who consume 25% more sugar than everyone else have a stronger
chance of dying of a heart attack.
Addiction and Sugar
Intake
While sugar is not
classed as a drug, its effects are similar to heroin. For this reason, sugar is
just as addictive as illegal drugs. They hijack the same neural pathways as
heroin and cocaine and leave people craving more and more.
In addition, just
like drugs, sugar can easily be abused.
Fatty Liver Disease
and Sugar Intake
Sugar is largely
composed of two simple types of sugars:
• Fructose
• Glucose
Fructose is very much
the "evil twin" and heads immediately to your liver. Over time, too
much sugar can cause a fatty liver, which, if left untreated, can lead to
chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.
Diabetes and Sugar
Intake
No doubt, the biggest
connection researchers have made is the one between sugar and diabetes.
Diabetes happens when
your pancreas doesn't create enough insulin (hormone that helps turn glucose
into energy) or the cells of your body are not able to take up glucose to use
for energy.
Type 1 Diabetes
occurs when you pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes
occurs when the cells do not utilize glucose appropriately, due to the
development of obesity.
Cancer and Sugar
Intake
Although tests are
still at their tentative stage, there is some research that suggests sugar
could cause certain cancers.
Dental Problems and
Sugar Intake
Although sugar is
certainly not the sole reason for oral issues, it can certainly cause some
pretty nasty damage to your molars
This is because it
leaves behind a trail of debris in your teeth, which, over time, can lead to
plaque and ultimately cavity formation.
Appetite and Sugar
Intake
Because sugar is so
addictive, it just makes you want to eat more and more. Cutting it out from
your diet will harmonize your appetite and you'll no longer feel like a
bottomless pit of starvation.
If you want to
optimize your health and the health of your children then start eliminating or
at least decreasing sugar from your diet and start living a healthier, longer,
more optimal life.
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