The dangers of Sugar

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There are very few people blessed with the lack of a sweet tooth. The rest of the population cannot resist the deliciousness of caramel, chocolate and all the other sugary goodness. Sugary drinks are just as bad; there are so many flavors and kinds, making resisting them so hard. Then there are other processed foods that also sneak up sugar in the daily diet.

But sweet as these goods might be, their consumption has an even bitter impact on your health. Sugar is not a friend to your health or wellbeing. It leads to a hoard of problems, including:

Weight gain

People who eat too much sugar have a higher risk of being overweight and obese due to the sheer number of calories present in it.

Moreover, consumption of desserts and sweet beverage also leads to changes in the impact of hormones of the body; they suppress the impact of hunger-moderating hormone, leptin. As a result, when there is no signal to the body to stop eating and no signal to exit the ‘hungry’ mode, people continue eating, rather, overeating.

Obesity is not just one condition, but leads to many complications. It leads to mental health issues, sleep problems, joint issues, risk of diabetes and heart diseases as well. It is imperative hence for all the overweight people to lose the excess weight with the help of lifestyle changes. Get help from a professional nutritionist like Ms. Ayesha Nasir for the weight loss journey.

Blood sugar level fluctuation

For optimal functioning, it is important to maintain our blood sugar level. Sugary drinks and foods are packed with sugar, and therefore lead to a sudden spike in the BSL. This is followed by an equally great dip.

This fluctuation is very bad for health; it leads mood swings, fatigue and headaches. Also, the more you indulge in this behavior of sugar consumption, the more you crave sugar. Thereby, initiating a vicious cycle.

Hyper immune functionality

Bacterium feed on the sugar, and when we eat more sugar, we are also causing the pathogens in the body to proliferate. Disturbed balance then leads to problems in the body, like UTIs.

Similarly, sugar also leads to inflammation, which unnecessarily taxes the immune system.

Tooth decay

Bacteria in the mouth also have a fondness for the sugar consumed. Its quantities then grow as it eats on the sugar and leaves behind acidic trail which erodes the enamel of the teeth. Result is cavities and rotting teeth.

Increases stress and risk of depression.  

Sugar has an unpleasant impact on the emotional health. Low sugar levels lead to the release of stress hormones in the body. So, when there are dips in BSL after the consumption of sugary drinks and desserts, body presumes itself to be under danger and the stress levels escalate.

Moreover, people who consume too much sugar are also at risk of getting depression. It interferes with the levels of neurotransmitters in the body, leading to depression. The emotional instability certainly does not help either!

Brain health endangered

Sugar consumption has also been linked to cognitive decline.  It leads to poor memory and also increases the risk for dementia.

Diabetes

Consuming too much sugar also makes you vulnerable against Type-II diabetes. When there is too much sugar present in the blood, body responds by making less and less quantities of insulin, the hormone responsible for utilization of sugar present in the blood.

Uncontrolled diabetes leads to heart disease, delayed wound healing, nerve damage, skin problems among many other complications that severely impede on the quality of life.

Liver disease

Liver helps in the conversion of fructose to fat. When liver is overtaxed with sugar, it leads to accumulation of fat in the liver (and the body), leading to condition known as fatty liver. Lack of timely intervention then leads to swelling and permanent scarring in the liver.

Increased risk of cancer

Sugar leads to inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, all the factors that contribute towards increased risk of cancer.

Danger to the heart

Sugar is an enemy to the heart as well; it leads to increase in inflammation and also blood pressure, both of which contribute to heart disease. It also raises levels of bad cholesterol in the body.  Moreover, sugar is processed by liver into fat, and the accumulation of which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Thus, overindulgence in sugar leads to heart disease, heart attack, stroke and hypertension. People who consumed too much sugar are also at greater risk of dying from heart disease.

Hence, for healthy living, it is important to cut back on sugar. It is especially vital for  those already suffering from heart disease that alongside moderating use of sugar, they should seek help of a credible cardiologist like Dr. Amanullah to make up for the damage already done by sugar.

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