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Wellness Wednesday: Life Is Sweet (In Small Doses)
Life can be sweet with a bit of sugar. A delicious piece of fruit for lunch, a piece of candy for special occasions, a packet of the good stuff in your morning coffee: they can give you a shot of energy and a rush of dopamine that can help you power through a hard day. Sugars are carbohydrates, which are a form of macronutrient that your body needs to function properly.
A little bit of sugar can be a good thing when you get them from eating fruits and vegetables. Too much sugar, however, can have some very negative side-effects on your body. Consider cutting down your sugar intake to a healthier level and you’ll soon see some serious benefits.
A Healthier Heart
Studies have shown that people who consume over 17% of their daily caloric intake from sugar have a 38% higher risk of dying from heart disease compared with those who keep their added sugar intake to 8% or lower. Scientists attribute this to a variety of risk factors that excess sugar causes, which include fatty liver disease, increased blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and weight gain.
Skin Care
Did you know that sugar can have an impact on your skin’s condition? High blood sugar levels can impact glycation, which is the process by which your body repairs your skin’s collagen. Collagen is a protein that keeps your skin looking plump and elastic. A diet that’s too high in sugar disrupts this process, which can lead to premature wrinkles and reduced elasticity. Cutting down on sugar can help lessen these effects and slow down visible signs of aging.
Even Out Your Energy Levels
The upside to sugars is that they can give you a boost of energy. The downside is that, as simple carbohydrates, they’re digested and metabolized quickly—which leads to a crash. A high sugar diet is like riding a rollercoaster of energy shifts. By switching to a diet that’s high in proteins and healthy fats you’ll end up with a steadier reservoir of energy to draw from throughout the day.
Trim The Fat
Excess sugar consumption can put you at risk for obesity. Cutting down on sugar can help you reduce belly fat over time. This is because eating sugars spikes your blood sugar, which triggers insulin to surge through your body. Insulin can encourage the development of fat in your body and cause it to accumulate around your midsection. These fat cells can put you at risk for heart disease, cancer, and impact your other organs.
Stabilize Insulin Levels
Reducing your sugar intake can keep your insulin levels stable, which is a very good thing. A healthy level of insulin means that fewer calories in your body will get stored as fat, hunger decreases, your metabolism increases, and it could make it easier for you to lose weight. Fewer sweets also means you’ll be more protected against developing diabetes.
Article by Austin Brietta
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