Fructose is different. Our bodies do not produce it in any significant amount and there is no physiological need for it. The thing with fructose is that it can only be metabolized by the liver in any significant amounts. Sugar addiction and its effects on health
Sugar Addiction doesnt just lead to Obesity or Type-II Diabetes; it affects your Heart Health, Brain Function and even your Sexual Life. Do you really know Sugar is the main food of Cancer cell???
Added sugar is the single worst ingredient in the modern diet. Youve probably heard this a million times before but its worth repeating. It can have harmful effects on metabolism and contribute to all sorts of diseases. Added sugars contain lot of calories with NO essential nutrients. For this reason, they are called empty calories.
In order to understand what is so bad about sugar, first we need to understand what it is made of. Before sugar enters the bloodstream from the digestive tract, it is broken down into two simple sugars glucose and fructose. Glucose is found in every living cell on the planet.
If we dont get it from the diet, our bodies produce it.
Fructose is different. Our bodies do not produce it in any significant amount and there is no physiological need for it. The thing with fructose is that it can only be metabolized by the liver in any significant amounts.
This is not a problem if we eat a little bit (such as from fruit) or we just finished an exercise session. In this case, the fructose will be turned into glycogen and stored in the liver until we need it. However, if the liver is full of glycogen (much more common), eating a lot of fructose overloads the liver, forcing it to turn the fructose into fat.
Sugar causes fatty liver diseases
When repeatedly eating large amounts of sugar, fructose metabolism process can lead to fatty liver and all sorts of serious problems. Overloading the liver with fructose can cause Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
Sugar leads to heart diseases
For many decades, people have blamed saturated fat for heart disease which is the no. 1 killer in the world. However new studies are showing that saturated fat is harmless.
The evidence is mounting that sugar, NOT fat, may be one of the leading drivers of heart disease via the harmful effects of fructose on metabolism. Studies show that large amounts of fructose can raise triglycerides.
Sugar can give you cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is characterized by uncontrolled growth and multiplication of cells. Insulin is one of the key hormones in regulating this sort of growth. For this reason, many scientists believe that having constantly elevated insulin levels (a consequence of sugar consumption) can contribute to cancer.
Sugar may tend to arthritis
Arthritis is a term used to describe various types of joint pain and inflammation. According to a 2002 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in elevated levels processed sugar can increase the inflammation which causes joint pain. For this reason, those who suffer from chronic arthritis are advised to keep their sugar consumption low.
According to USDA data, people who consume the most sugar have the lowest intakes of essential nutrientsespecially vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B-12, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron.
A high-sugar diet often results in chromium deficiency.
If we consume a lot of sugar and other refined carbohydrates, we probably dont get enough of the trace mineral chromium, and one of chromiums main functions is to help regulate blood sugar. Chromium is found in a variety of animal foods, seafood and plant foods. Refining starches and other carbohydrates deprive these foods of their chromium supplies.
Sugar increases stress
When were under stress, our stress hormone levels raise; these chemicals are called into action when blood sugar is low. For example, after a blood-sugar spike (say, from eating a piece of birthday cake), theres a compensatory dive, which causes the body to release stress hormones such as adrenaline, epinephrine and cortisol.
One of the main things these hormones do is raise blood sugar, providing the body with a quick energy boost. The problem is, these hormones can make us feel anxious, irritable and shaky.
Sugar is highly addictive
Sugar can be addictive for a lot of people. Like abusive drugs, sugar causes massive Dopamine release in the brain. For this reason, people who have a susceptibility to addiction can become addicted to sugar and other junk foods.
Sugar accelerates aging
A high-sugar diet damages collagen. Some of the sugar you consume, after hitting your bloodstream, ends up attaching itself to proteins, in a process called glycation. These new molecular structures contribute to the loss of elasticity found in aging body tissues, from your skin to your organs and arteries. The more sugar circulating in your blood, the faster this damage takes hold.
So why late? It takes about 7 days to get the sugar addiction out of your system. This does not mean the cravings will disappear but the intense addiction needs that amount of time. Lets try to wean yourself off sugar and of course better living!
