Why Having Too Much Sugar May Negatively Affect Your Health
Sugar can be found even in the most unexpected foods like marinara sauce or salad dressing. As a common ingredient in many processed foods, hidden sugars are everywhere! The average American consumes about 17 teaspoons of sugar a day, which is almost double the recommended dose of 9 teaspoons. Sugar contributes empty calories that don’t do our bodies any favors. In fact, having too much sugar may negatively affect your health in more ways than you know. Read on to learn about how having too much sugar could affect your health and what to eat instead.
May Increase the Risk of Diabetes
The prevalence of diabetes has been skyrocketing in the past 30 years. Excessive sugar consumption is by far the strongest contributing risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, prolonged intake of excess sugar could increase insulin resistance. This can disrupt blood sugar levels in the body, causing spikes or lows which could result in fainting spells and other issues.
May Accelerate the Appearance of Aging
Wrinkles are a natural sign of aging but no one wants them to come on prematurely. If there was a way to reduce the risk of premature signs of aging, wouldn’t you want to know about it? Sugar reacts with the proteins in our bodies to create advanced glycation end products, a substance that accelerates the aging of skin. These substances damage collagen and elastin, proteins that make skin supple and help maintain its youthful appearance. Damaged skin has increased laxity and may start to sag, which may make you look older or tired.
Sugar Could Drain Your Energy
You may think that sugar is just what you need for giving you an energy high, and you’d be right, except for the fact that right after that high will come a crashing low. Eating foods that are high in sugar may cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to spike, creating extra energy for your body. Eventually, however, what goes up must come down. Energy boosts that are caused by sugar are typically followed by a sharp drop in blood sugar, causing an energy crash. Having constant blood sugar fluctuations can lead to energy swings that may make you extra tired in the long run.
May Affect Your Mood
While the initial happy feeling you get from indulging in sugary foods may be fun in the moment, the long-term effects could make you feel extra low. Eating sugar is like delivering a straight shot of serotonin to the brain, and although serotonin (the happy hormone) is good, getting it too quickly isn’t. As quickly as it appears, it will start to dissipate. This causes an imbalance in the neurotransmitters of your brain and could lead to the development of mood-related mental illnesses like depression.
Snack attacks hit all of us, but how can you combat the need to satisfy your sweet tooth? Instead of reaching for a sugar-laden candy bar, try something low-sugar yet highly indulgent like a Keto Nut & Seed Bar! With just 1 gram of sugar or less and 2-3 grams of net carbs, these bars have the perfect mix of sweet and salty to keep you and your health in check.
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