Why is sugar so bad for us?
Although there is a lack of evidence supporting the theory of sugar addiction using human studies , we cannot deny that we are a generation that habitually consumes too much sugar.
Today, sugar is so refined that it is stripped of any nutrients and is cleverly concealed in the food we consume, leading us to unknowingly overindulge.
Although poor health isn’t usually related to one underlying cause, sugar is a significant contributing factor and, indeed, forms a piece of the complex puzzle. It can be considered as bad for your health as smoking or not exercising and is linked to the increased risk of obesity , Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and reproductive disorders, as well as encouraging tooth decay, yeast overgrowth, and affecting the quality of our sleep . So, whilst we may now live longer than ever before, we are not necessarily in good health, with high sugar intake putting us at risk of some severe health complications.
So how can we lower our sugar intake?
When we eat sugar, neurons in our brain receive a signal via the gut-brain axis releasing dopamine (the brain’s reward system), reinforcing our desire for more sugar . These same neurons also need essential fatty acids (EFAs) and amino acids.
EFAs can be found in oily fish, chia seeds, walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds. Poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, quinoa, and buckwheat are all rich in the nine essential amino acids, so incorporating these foods into your diet will help curb your sugar habit.
You will soon start to see the benefits of lowering your sugar intake with stable blood sugar levels, weight loss, healthy skin, better energy levels, and a reduced risk of diseases). You’ll wish you had done it sooner.
