Not only does it cause the obvious problems like tooth decay, but sugar is also linked to impaired brain function, depression and anxiety, cancer and heart disease.
Despite all these obvious ill effects, many are still consuming up to five times the amount of sugar that’s recommended ! This means women are eating up to 30 teaspoons of sugar per day, while men eat up to 45 teaspoons!
Of course, they’re probably not sitting down eating spoon after spoon of white sugar, but in today’s society, HIDDEN SUGAR is lurking everywhere. In fact, it’s found in 75% of packaged foods !
Why not find out how much hidden sugar you’re consuming every day?
It might just shock you.
And it’s not just those with a sweet tooth that are at risk of overdoing it on the sugar. If you’re filling up on bread, pasta, chips and fries, it means you’re simply consuming sugar in another form. Starchy foods are broken down by the body into simple sugars and cause all the same problems that candy does, particularly when over eaten.
The bottom line is, sugar is not your friend so banish it from your diet. Sure, it will mean reading labels, forsaking some of your favorite treats and even making meals from scratch.
But when you read on and discover these seven amazing things that happen when you quit sugar, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s totally worth it.
1. SLOW DOWN AGING PROCESS
In a process known as glycation, sugar attaches to the collagen in our skin and other parts of the body. This causes inflammation and reduces the effectiveness of both collagen and elastin, the proteins in our skin that help it stay youthful. When these don’t work so well, your skin no longer looks supple and youthful. Instead it begins to look dull, dry and…old!
While glycation can’t be completely stopped, it can be slowed down. And you guessed it, quitting sugar is one of the best ways to do this.
Eg. Diabetics – whose blood sugar level had been raised over a long period of time – look older than their peers who do not have diabetes.
As well as aging your skin, too much sugar has been found to aggravate acne, and in some cases, even trigger it.
Once you begin to wean yourself off the white stuff (including simple carbs) you should soon start to notice a difference in how your skin looks and feels.
2. SEE THE POUNDS MELT AWAY
How great would it be if you could just make one small change, and see the pounds melt away, particularly around the belly and love handles area?
Well, you can! Simply ditch the sugar and you’ll be effortlessly trim in no time.
A recent study has shown that, when calories were equal, those on a low sugar and refined carb diet burned 325 more calories a day than those eating a low fat diet! On the other hand, diets high in energy from fructose (sugar) contributeto weight gain and obesity.
Basically, too many sugary foods over an extended period of time cause resistance to the hormone insulin, which triggers our bodies to store extra fat and slows down metabolism. Once the body starts to get resistant to insulin, it can be a difficult process to reverse…so prevention is the best cure.
But insulin isn’t the only hormone that sugar affects, it also interferes with the function of leptin. This particular hormone is responsible for controlling our appetite and telling our liver what to do with all the glucose stored there. When our body doesn’t read leptin’s signals, it leads to weight gain particularly around your middle, MKHABA REGION , which is often a precursor to diabetes.
3. STOP BEING A SLAVE TO SUGAR
Contrary to what many people believe, being addicted to sugar and flour is not an emotional eating disorder, it’s a biological disorder, driven by hormones and neurotransmitters that cause us to crave sugar and carbs.
When we eat these foods our bodies release serotonin and beta-endorphin, neurotransmitters that improve our mood, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Naturally our bodies crave that source of happiness again and again.
It seems like a vicious cycle, and it is. But the good news is that when you give up sugar those cravings will stop! The detox will happen in 10 days or less!
Blood sugar issues are said to be the second leading causes of insomnia!
By ditching sugar and refined carbs, especially before bed, you’ll avoid a rise in blood sugar levels that keeps you up all night.
You’ll also avoid the inevitable drop that follows every rise. This drop causes the body to release hormones to regulate glucose levels, while also stimulating the brain, something which can easily cause you to wake. By avoiding this pattern of rising and falling sugar levels, you’ll have a much better sleep.
In addition to disrupting blood glucose levels, sugar and grains are food groups that many are sensitive to. If you’re one of these people, you might experience reactions that keep you up – like excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, bloating, and gas.
If you absolutely need a snack before bed, try some oatmeal or whole grain carbs. These should maintain blood sugar levels and also increase the level of serotonin within the brain, promoting a healthy and consistent sleep.
5. REDUCED RISK OF ILLNESS
It’s believed that conditions like asthma, allergies, heart disease and even cancer are actually caused by chronic inflammation in the body. While a certain level inflammation is normal, when it is triggered unnecessarily, or gets out of control, then we have a problem.
What causes the brain to misread the signals, and trigger an inflammatory response even when no threat exists? A poor diet, rich in sugar and refined carbohydrates, is one of the main culprits.
The blood sugar surge that follows from snacking on white bread, French fries or even a can of soda, causes the body to release inflammatory messengers called cytokines. Eating whole grain products instead reduces cytokine production.
In addition, sugar and white flour are acidic foods and experts believe this is a major cause of chronic inflammation.
Once you cut out the sugar and simple carbs and replace them with fruit, vegetables and complex carbohydrates you’ll decrease your body’s inflammatory responses and therefore reduce your risk of these illnesses.
6. NO MORE ENERGY UPS AND DOWNS
Around 3 in the late afternoon while at home or at the office ... Do you reach for a can of coke or perhaps a slab of chocolate / chips / sweets ?
Sure, they give you a quick energy boost, but if you think about it, don’t they almost as quickly drain that energy, leaving you exhausted, irritable, and craving another pick-me-up?
Because these foods are broken down very quickly, blood sugar levels rise and the brain stops producing orexin, the neuropeptide responsible for feeling alert. It’s not surprising you can’t focus on anything once lunch time has passed.
When it comes to fuel to keep us going, our bodies use two types – sugars and fats. Of course, we should be using fats as fuel, given that they are the most energy-dense macronutrient. Unfortunately, most people are adapted to using sugar as their source of energy, which burns much quicker, leaving them struggling to stay awake.
A study of rats showed that those fed a low fat diet, high in sugar and refined flour, were not only more obese than rats fed a balanced diet, but also less willing to work for a reward.
Proof that sugar makes you lazy!!!
By replacing sugar and simple carbs with healthy fats and complex carbohydrates as your main sources of fuel, you can say goodbye to those energy highs and lows that are holding you back.
7. FEEL AS GOOD AS YOU LOOK
A psychiatric researcher conducted an analysis of the relationship between diet and mental health and concluded that there is a strong link between high sugar consumption and the risk of depression and schizophrenia.
This isn’t the only study to link sugar with mental illness. A 2004 study found that a higher intake of refined sugar and dairy predicted a worse two-year outcome of schizophrenia.
Sugar is believed to affect our mental health in two ways. Firstly, it suppresses activity of the important growth hormone BDNF. Sufferers of depression and schizophrenia are known to have critically low levels of BDNF levels in the brain.
Secondly, it causes a chain of chemical reactions , in addition to the countless other problems it also disrupts immune system function, and wreaks havoc on the brain.
#Dacious
Info by : Nutrition Secrets
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