Why is sugar harmful?

Smart and Art Nutrition by Delli Creations

Why is sugar harmful?

Sugar causes us to gain weight

Obesity rates are rising worldwide. One of the main culprits is added sugar, which commonly found in soft drinks and packaged sweets

Fructose, is a type of simple sugar, is abundant in juices, cola-type soft drinks, iced tea and energy drinks

Fructose, more than glucose, stimulates the appetite and desire for food. The basic sugar found in starchy food is glucose

Furthermore, a high glucose diet may lead to resistance to hormone “leptin” which regulates appetite and tells our bodies when to stop eating.

Simply put, sugary and soft drinks do not satisfy your hunger. They simply open it to consume more calories (mostly in liquid form), resulting in weight gain.

Sugar depletes the body's energy reserves.

Sugary foods and beverages have a high glycemic index. When we consume them, their blood sugar and insulin levels skyrocket. The increase in energy levels, on the other hand, is elusive.

Products and foods that are high in sugar but lack proteins, fats, and fiber provide instant energy but then cause a rapid drop in blood sugar.

A sudden drop in blood sugar can cause psychological transitions, intense hunger, cravings, and gluttony

 If you want to avoid this energy drain, choose sweet unprocessed carbohydrates with fiber, such as fruit.

It is best not to eat dessert alone on an empty stomach. It would be healthy to eat something with protein.

 This will help to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Eating an apple with a handful of almonds is one such example. This type of snack will provide you with long-lasting energy as well as a plethora of nutrients.

 

Sugar has been linked to an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A high-sugar diet is linked to an increased risk of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and heart attacks, which are the leading causes of death worldwide.

 Sugary diets, according to research, can easily lead to obesity, blood sugar problems, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and high triglycerides. All of the preceding are high risk factors for cardiovascular disease 

 Furthermore, sugar consumption, primarily from sugary drinks (soft drinks, coffees, and commercial juices), has been linked to atherosclerosis.

A condition in which the arteries become clogged with lipids that have settled on the artery walls.

 Simply put, one soft drink per day easily places us in the high risk category for cardiovascular problems.

Sugar consumption raises the risk of developing diabetes.

Diabetics have more than doubled globally in the last 30 years. There are several reasons for this, but the link between excessive sugar consumption and type 2 diabetes is clear.

Obesity, which is frequently associated with the consumption of sugar and other processed carbohydrates like flour, is the most significant risk factor for diabetes 

 Long-term sugar consumption leads to insulin resistance, a pancreatic hormone that regulates blood sugar levels

Insulin resistance raises blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of developing diabetes.

Sugar causes fat to accumulate in the liver.

In many cases, increased fructose consumption has been linked to an increased risk of fatty liver (fatty infiltration of the liver).

 Unlike glucose and other simple carbohydrates, which are used by multiple tissues throughout the body, fructose is almost entirely metabolized in the liver.

 In the liver, fructose is converted to energy or stored as glycogen.

 

However, because liver reserves are easily replenished, excess fructose is stored as fat.

Large amounts of added sugar, particularly fructose, impair liver function and frequently result in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver 

Sugar consumption has been linked to the appearance of acne.

Acne and pimples are associated with a diet high in refined carbohydrates such as sugar and flour.

Foods with a high glycemic index, such as processed and packaged commercial sweets, significantly raise blood sugar levels.

This causes a significant increase in insulin levels in the blood, which leads to increased androgen secretion, oiliness, and inflammation, all of which are directly related to the development of acne (16).

Increases the likelihood of depression

A nutrient-dense diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and salads improves mood and psychology.

 

A diet high in sugar, flour, processed carbohydrates, packaged sweets, and ready-to-eat foods, on the other hand, increases the risk of developing depression.

 

Researchers believe that sudden fluctuations in blood sugar after consuming sugar cause neurotransmitter deregulation while also triggering inflammation.

These two factors have an impact on mental health in some way 

This could result in premature skin aging.

Wrinkles are a normal part of the aging process. Regardless of your health, they will appear sooner or later. However, diet has a significant impact on how quickly they appear.

 Proper nutrition, on the other hand, plays a significant role in the anti-aging of the face and body.

 Advanced non-enzymatic glycosylation products (ANDPs) or advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are compounds formed when proteins and sugars are consumed together.

 Many studies blame them for premature skin aging (

AGEs degrade collagen and elastin, the skin's building blocks and the foundation of youth and beauty.

When collagen and elastin are depleted, the skin relaxes, loses luster, and begins to sag.

 

If you consume sugar in any form on a regular basis, you must supplement with antioxidant ingredients and elements.

Cancer risk may be increased.

A high sugar intake raises the risk of developing several cancers. In theory, a diet high in sugary foods and beverages can lead to obesity, which increases the risk of cancer significantly.

 Furthermore, a high-sugar, processed-carbohydrate diet causes chronic inflammation in the body and can lead to insulin resistance.