It has been several years since we were told to reduce the salt in our diets.
Then we were told to cut back on sugar because researchers have linked it to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and many complications related to these disorders.
In 2016, the general advice is to completely eliminate sugar from your diet.
This is, of course, tricky because so many of us have a sweet tooth, thanks to diets that are rich in that sugary taste we crave. The more sugar we’ve eaten over the years, the more our bodies crave it now. It doesn’t help that pies, cakes, glazed donuts, ice cream and so many others seem to be standing in our way as we buy with healthy intent the foods we’ve been told make up the optimal diet.
So are the things.
Reports reveal that the average person in the United States consumes more than 126 grams of sugar per day, which is almost twice the average sugar intake of the 54 countries.
Additionally, 126 grams is twice the recommended daily intake, which the World Health Organization designates at 50 grams daily for people of normal weight.
Eliminating sugar from your diet could save you from a host of health problems down the line.
But is eliminating sugar from your diet even a practical recommendation?
Perhaps a better strategy would be to take smaller steps and focus on lowering your sugar intake.
The following are ten reasons why you should consider eliminating or significantly reducing sugar from your diet:
Depression and sugar consumption
Sugar is on the prevention list of 5 foods that cause depression, and for good reason. Multiple studies have suggested that there is a link between a diet high in sugar and depression.
It’s important to remember that the foods you eat don’t just release their nutrients, sugars, and calories into your belly and thighs; they also send them to your brain.
Obesity and Sugar Consumption
Sugar has been referred to as the new tobacco.
Sugar is loaded with empty calories (energy) that your body stores for days to come. Only the last few days never come and eventually all that pent up energy turns into fat.
Blood pressure and sugar intake
More and more Americans are being diagnosed with high blood pressure, and the Mayo Clinic suggests that a poor diet is one of the biggest risk factors.
The more sugar you eat, the more your bad cholesterol levels can rise, resulting in hardening of the arteries and increased blood pressure.
Heart disease and sugar intake
No matter how much you weigh, consuming more sugar only improves your chances of developing heart disease and having a heart attack.
Figures in the past have shown that people who consume 25% more sugar than others have a higher chance of dying from a heart attack.
Sugar Addiction and Consumption
Although sugar is not classified as a drug, its effects are similar to those of heroin. For this reason, sugar is just as addictive as illegal drugs. They hijack the same neural pathways as heroin and cocaine and leave people craving more and more.
Also, like drugs, sugar can be easily abused.
Fatty liver disease and sugar consumption
Sugar is largely made up of two simple types of sugars:
• Fructose
• Glucose
Fructose is very much the “evil twin” and goes immediately to your liver. Over time, too much sugar can cause fatty liver which, if left untreated, can lead to chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.
Sugar intake and diabetes
Without a doubt, the biggest connection researchers have made is the one between sugar and diabetes.
Diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin (a hormone that helps convert glucose into energy) or your body’s cells can’t absorb glucose to use for energy.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when cells do not use glucose properly, due to the development of obesity.
Sugar intake and cancer
Although the evidence is still in its tentative stage, there is some research suggesting that sugar might cause certain types of cancer.
Dental problems and sugar consumption
While sugar certainly isn’t the only reason for oral problems, it can certainly cause some pretty nasty damage to your molars.
This is because it leaves a trail of debris on your teeth that, over time, can lead to plaque formation and ultimately cavities.
Appetite and Sugar Intake
Because sugar is so addictive, it just makes you want to eat more and more. Eliminating it from your diet will harmonize your appetite and you will no longer feel like a bottomless pit of hunger.
If you want to optimize your health and the health of your children, then start eliminating or at least reducing sugar from your diet and start living a healthier, longer and optimal life.