Ever since the advent of low-fat foods, sugar has become an ingredient found in thousands of products in grocery stores. From tomato sauce to nut butters, many foods have hidden amounts of sugar. Consuming too much sugar may have serious health consequences and can lead to dental decay and diabetes. Elevated insulin levels caused by eating too many refined carbohydrates such as sugar also increases the risk of:
1. Weight gain, especially around the stomach area. Sugar alters our appetite-regulating hormones, causing us to crave more of it. We also store excess sugars in the most easily-accessible fat cells around our liver.
2. Joint pain. Excess sugar lead to unwanted inflammation which can lead to inflamed joints
3. Wrinkly skin. Spare sugar molecules attach to 'AGE' (advanced glycation end products) in the bloodstream, and together they damage the structure of healthy skin causing sagginess and wrinkles
4. Liver diseases. It's not just alcohol that can cause liver disease. Fructose from juice, corn syrup and very high fruit consumption can accumulate as fat in the liver, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
5. Heart disease. High insulin levels are caused by excess refined carbohydrates and this can damage arteries. Conditions such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and heart disease.
The good news is that this is all avoidable! Taking regular simple steps to reduce your sugar intake can make a huge difference.
Comments