Do you know that processed sugar is bad for your health? There are many reasons why sugar is bad for your health. Some experts say that processed sugar is synonymous with sweet poison. Whereas some say that taking processed sugar in moderation doesn’t harm your body. Processed sugar doesn’t have any nutritive value or health benefits for the body.
Moreover, processed sugar cause health consequences such as heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver disease, depression, dementia, and cancer. Eating a lot of adding sugar can lead to low energy levels, headaches and inflammation. This is not fear-mongering. Processed sugar is a toxin that is harmful to our health and disrupts our hormonal balance.
Moreover, it reduces the amount of a protein known as SHGB that is responsible for regulating testosterone and estrogen in the body. Added sugar creates hormonal imbalance and affects the reproductive cycle in both males and females.
Besides this, it is addictive and when you eat processed sugar it causes a dopamine rush in your body and makes you feel good. So, you crave more sugar and the vicious cycle continues. In this article, you will learn the disadvantages of processed sugar for your health.
1. Processed Sugar Is Like a Drug
There are many adverse effects of processed sugar on the human body. One disadvantage is that it is addictive and creates a rush of happy hormones such as dopamine in the body. Eating sugar provides your body with short-time energy and alleviates your mood.
That’s why many people feel happy after eating sugar and crave more. Sugar fuels the body cells and our brain see sugar as rewarding. That’s why you experience sugar cravings even when you are not hungry. Processed sugar is as addictive as any other drug such as cocaine or heroin.
2. Processed Sugar Damages Your Immune System
Research has shown that processed sugar is harmful to our body systems, especially our immune system. Processed sugar interferes with the normal functioning of the white blood cells which play an integral role in the immune system.
They fight against foreign substances and prevent the spread of infections. Processed sugar decreases the efficiency of the white blood cells for hours after consumption. Moreover, it compromises the immune system and inhibits its ability to fight against microorganisms and infections.
3. Processed Sugar Deprives Your Body of Essential Minerals
Refined sugar is an empty calorie intake with no nutritive value for the body. Besides this, it deprives your body of essential minerals such as magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium from your body. Eating a large amount of processed sugar can cause depletion of essential vitamins and minerals from the body causing vitamin and nutrient deficiency. Depletion of calcium from the bones and teeth can lead to osteoporosis, oral cavities, and tooth decay. That’s why people who consume a lot of sugar content have cavities and tooth decay.
4. Processed Sugar Increases the Risk of Cancer
Another disadvantage of processed sugar is that it increases the risk of cancer in the body. Eating too much sugar increases insulin production in the body which promotes cell growth in the body. Sugar itself doesn’t cause cancer but it leads to obesity which can cause cancer. Excessive sugar intake can increase the risk of colon, breast, colorectal, endometrial, and pancreatic cancer in the body.
5. Processed Sugar Is Detrimental for The Liver
Processed sugar contains fructose and sucrose. Our liver is responsible for the metabolism of fructose. Eating too much sugar causes the liver to break down fructose resulting in the fat build-up. Over time, fat will deposit in the liver and leads to liver diseases. That’s why processed sugar is detrimental to the liver.
6. Processed Sugar Causes Types 2 Diabetes and Obesity
A disadvantage of processed sugar is that it causes insulin resistance in the body and leads to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the human body. Its uptakes the glucose from the bloodstream and enter it into body cells to be used as an energy source.
If you consume too much sugar, it causes the pancreas to release more insulin to regulate glucose levels in the blood, resulting in insulin resistance. When insulin resistance develops in the body, it leads to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, insulin resistance also leads to the storage of fat cells in the body resulting in obesity.
7. Processed Sugar Causes Wrinkles and Premature Aging
Processed sugar has adverse effects on our skin. When you consume processed sugar, it attaches to the amino acids in the bloodstream and causes AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products). AGEs damage the collagen and elastin formation in the dermis resulting in premature aging and the formation of wrinkles in the skin.
8. Processed Sugar Affects Mental Health
Eating processed sugar affects your mental health. You will wonder how? When you consume sugar, it causes the release of happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine from your brain. When these hormones release you feel happy and it boosts your energy levels.
On the contrary, when you don’t eat sugar, it causes withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, stress, fatigue, mood swings, and depression. That’s why most people who are addicted to sugar crave it.
9. Processed Sugar Makes Children More Hyperactive
When processed sugar enters your bloodstream, it causes rapid fluctuations in the glucose levels in the bloodstream. Moreover, it triggers the production of adrenaline which activates the fight and flight response and makes children hyperactive. Processed sugar is addictive so try to keep it away from the children.
10. Processed Sugar Affects Good Cholesterol and Heart Diseases
When you consume processed sugar, it lowers the levels of HDLs in the body. HDLs are high-density lipoproteins which are also known as good cholesterol, which lowers the levels of LDLs in the body. LDLs are low-density lipoproteins that cause the development of plaque in the arterial walls and lead to atherosclerosis. Therefore, avoiding added sugar and artificial sweeteners that contain chemicals and preservatives is recommended.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, processed sugar cause health consequences such as depression, anxiety, low energy levels, fatigue, heart diseases, liver diseases, and premature aging. Besides this, it causes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. You can use organic sugar made up of 100% natural ingredients and no added preservatives. Organic sugar lowers your glycemic load and prevents diabetes.
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