Drug or Sugar Addiction ?

Is sugar bad for you?

Can it really have a head-to-toe impact on the human body?

When we’re talking about added sugar, the answer is a resounding “YES.” Although the sugar industry has actively fought to change public opinion about the health effects of sugar, we now know today that sugar impacts just about every organ system in the body. And not in a good way.

Let’s take a look at the top ways added sugar destroys your body.

Here’s How It Destroys You Health

Ticker Trouble

Most people blame dietary fat for heart disease. And while certain industrial, inflammatory fats like trans fats do cause heart attacks, sugar is the real culprit.

Researchers were able to scientifically show that ingesting too much added sugar could significantly increase your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

In fact, people getting 17 to 21 percent of calories from added sugar face a 38 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who got just 8 percent of their calories from sugar.

The American Heart Association recommends. AHA says:

• No more than 6 teaspoons or 100 calories a day of sugar for most women • No more than 9 teaspoons or 150 calories a day for most men.

Fatty Livers

Here’s another reason to reduce sugar intake.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise. And guess what’s largely to blame? Sugar!

High-fructose corn syrup hiding out in drinks and processed foods has been called a “weapon of mass destruction.”

Nonalcoholic fatty liver occurs when fat builds up in the liver. This parallels the frequency of obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. And many Americans with the disease don’t experience any symptoms.

Interestingly, the microbiome is at play, too. You see, the microbiome serves as the interface between diet and the liver and modifies dietary effects.

Leaky Gut & Other Metabolic Diseases

Is sugar bad, particularly when it comes to the gut? You bet.

Knowing that the microorganisms that live in gut actually act similarly to a metabolic “organ,” researchers now believe sugar changes the gut microbiota in a way that increases intestinal permeability, AKA leaky gut symptoms.

This means the chronic, low-grade inflammation that sugar triggers can lead to the transfer of substances from the gut into the bloodstream. This can trigger obesity and other chronic, metabolic diseases.

Eliminated excess added sugar is a key part of any effective leaky gut treatment plan. Added sugar feeds yeast and bad bacteria that can damage the intestinal wall creating a leaky gut.

A Diabetes-Prone Body

Researchers also found the impact of sugar on diabetes held true regardless of a sedentary lifestyle and alcohol use.

A Number of Cancers

Does sugar impact cancer risk?

Some associations between different types of sugar and certain cancers.

For instance,

~added sugars increase the risk of esophageal cancer,

~added fructose (high-fructose corn syrup) appeared to increase the risk of cancer in the small intestine.

~high intake of added sugars and colon cancer.

This higher risk remained even after adjusting for other colon cancer risk facts like being overweight or obese or having diabetes.

~Dietary sugar could also increase the risk of breast cancer tumors

~Metastasis to the lungs.

Learning and Memory

Studies show that a diet high in sugar and saturated fats can promote oxidative stress, leading to cell damage. Also, impaired hippocampal function (learning and memory), as hippocampus is sensitive to a high-energy diet.

Addiction

Sugar addiction is real. The pathway activated for addiction is the same as the reward pathway. Persistent increases in the release of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, leads to desensitization and requires more consumption for the reward.

It changes gene expression and creates a

consumption→ Dopamine release→ reward→ pleasure→ motivate cycle that is increasingly difficult to break.

Depression & Anxiety

Attempts in trying to break the addictive cycle can lead to mood swings and irritability. Eliminating all additive sugar from your diet can lead to some of the same symptoms of drug withdrawal.

Sugar withdrawal symptoms include

~headaches,

~anxiety,

~cravings &

~chills.

Cognitive Deficits

Prolonged diets with high sugar may lead to changes in gene expression. That affects everything from neurotransmitters to receptors and the basic function of the cell. In particular, studies suggest the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is impacted. This is active in the hippocampus, cortex and forebrain and is vital to learning and memory, as well as supporting existing neurons while promoting the formation of new synapses. This is reduced in high sugar diets.

Therefore, it’s unsurprising that a correlation between low BDNF levels and Alzheimer’s, depression and dementia has been discovered.

Sugar Ingredients to Avoid

Added sugars can fall under all sorts of different names on ingredient labels. While it’s currently nearly impossible to tell the percentage of sugar comes from natural or added sources right now, better labeling is right around the corner.

One rule of thumb to find these hidden sugars is that any ingredient ending in “ose” is a type of sugar.

Don’t be fooled by more natural-sounding names either. Sweeteners like cane juice, beet sugar, fruit juice, rice syrup and molasses are still types of sugar. Check out their place in the ingredients, list, too. The higher up an ingredient is on the list, the more of it is included in a product.

Other names for added sugar include:

• Anhydrous dextrose

• Brown sugar

• Confectioner’s powdered sugar

• Corn syrup

• Corn syrup solids

• Dextrose

• Fructose

• High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

• Invert sugar

• Lactose

• Malt syrup

• Maltose

• Molasses

• Nectars (for example, peach or pear nectar)

• Pancake syrup

• Raw sugar

• Sucrose

• Sugar

• White granulated sugar

Final Thoughts on the Question: “Is Sugar Bad for You?”

• Is sugar bad for you? Yes, indeed. Added sugar can significantly increase your risk of early death.

• Sugar impacts brain function, can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and increases your risk of heart disease.

• Added sugars appear to increase the risk of breast cancer and metastasis to the lungs.

• There are dozens of names for added sugar on ingredient labels. However, natural versus added sugars are not differentiated on those labels. That’s all supposed to change in mid-2018, when added sugars are expected to land on Nutrition Facts labeling.

• Simply dialing back on processed foods and drinks can lower your sugar intake.

• If you do use sugar, use less processed forms, but use them sparingly. Alternatively, I recommend using green stevia for sweetening purposes.

• Getting enough high-quality protein, fiber and fermented foods can help you lose your sugar cravings over time.

For any queries or questions please leave your comments below or you can also email me on insiya1793@gmail.com. Please do leave your suggestions on any topic that you would like me to write on.

Your Well-wisher,

Dr.Insiya Follow me on Instagram for further updates:@yourwellwisher_drinsiya