Used in your morning cup of coffee or tea, added into pastries, cakes and cookies, even sprinkled over your breakfast cereal and oatmeal, sugar is that sweet, short-chain, soluble carbohydrate which is most commonly found in most of the foods we consume today. Sugar is also hidden in many of the favorite treats we eat on a daily basis, such as fruit juices, sodas, candies, ice cream and almost all processed foods, including popular condiments like ketchup.
Although it’s common for people to regularly ingest sugar in every meal, how much sugar is acceptable to consume? More importantly, can excessive sugar cause negative side effects to your health? What is the exact function of sugar in the body? These are only several of the fundamental questions we must ask ourselves before we continue to eat foods with high amounts of sugar.
Contents
According to a research study released in February 2015, the average American today consumes approximately 32 teaspoons, or 126 grams, of sugar per day, amounting to 134 pounds of sugar per year. Moreover, people are ingesting excessive amounts of sugar in the form of fructose or high-fructose corn syrup. While this highly processed form of sugar is cheaper, it is also 20 percent sweeter than regular table sugar, which is why most food and beverage manufacturers utilize the product, allowing them to save more money in the long run.
Knowing these statistics, our concern is that the human body is actually not designed to consume excessive sugar, much less in the form of fructose. As a matter of fact, the body metabolizes fructose differently than sugar. Fructose is actually a hepatotoxin, meaning it is toxic to the liver, and it is metabolized directly into fat, which can result in a variety of issues that can have significant effects to your health.
Dr. Robert Lustig, a professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology in the University of California and a pioneer in decoding sugar metabolism, explained that the human body is capable of safely metabolizing at least six teaspoons of added sugar per day. However, because most Americans are consuming over three times that amount, the majority of the excess amounts of sugar in the body are metabolized into body fat, which can lead to other debilitating chronic metabolic diseases.
The following are several side effects which occur due to excessive sugar:
One of the most severe effects of eating too much sugar is its potential to damage the liver, leading to a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. The same disease that you can get from excessive alcohol intake can also be caused by excessive sugar or fructose intake. Dr. Lustig described the three similarities between alcohol and fructose:
While these are some of the most commonly known ways that excess amounts of sugar or fructose can negatively affect the body, there are other ways the body can be affected as well. Evidence from several of America�s most respected institutions now confirms that sugar is a primary dietary factor that drives the development of chronic disease and obesity.
One study found that fructose is readily used by cancer cells to increase their proliferation, in other words, it feeds the cancer cells, promoting cell division and speeding their growth which allow the cancer to spread faster.
Alzheimer�s disease is another deadly illness that can arise from excessive sugar consumption. A growing body of research found a powerful connection between a high-fructose diet and the risk of developing Alzheimer�s disease through the same pathway that causes type 2 diabetes. According to some experts, Alzheimer�s and other brain disorders may be caused by the constant burning of glucose by the brain.
Other diseases that are linked to metabolic syndrome that may potentially develop from excess sugar include:
Sugar, in its natural form, is not bad as long as it�s consumed in moderation. This means avoiding all sources of fructose, particularly that found in processed foods and beverages such as soda. Approximately 74 percent of processed foods contain hidden added sugar under more than 60 different names. Ideally, you should consume more whole foods and less processed foods.
Furthermore, it’s recommended to limit the consumption of refined carbohydrates, such as waffles, cereals, bagels, etc. and grains, as these can break down sugar in your body, increasing your insulin levels and causing insulin resistance.
As a general recommendation, its advised for people to keep their total fructose consumption below 25 grams per day, including that from whole fruit. Keep in mind that although fruits are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, they also naturally contain fructose, and if consumed in high amounts, they may actually worsen your insulin sensitivity and raise your uric acid levels.
Remember that artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose should also be ultimately avoided, since they can develop a completely different set of health complications which may be far worse than the issues sugar or corn syrup can cause.
More evidence from recent studies has revealed that obesity, pre-diabetes and diabetes can be driving factors for, not only chronic conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, but also for a diversity of other chronic diseases, including cancer. It�s essential to realize that you don�t have to give up sugar completely but you must reduce it significantly from your diet. Research studies have demonstrated that no one should be consuming more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day, including fruit sugar as well.
In order to become healthy and fight off chronic illness, here are some additional dietary tips to remember:
Sugar is highly addictive and can often affect dependency centers in the brain and it can have an emotional component as well. In order to suppress sugar cravings, it�s essential to detox. A variety of healthcare professionals can help design appropriate sugar detox programs. Such programs can be great for detoxing the body from unwanted chemicals, eliminating sugar addiction and decreasing inflammation.
The temptation to eat or indulge in sugary foods will always be there, especially with the abundance of processed foods and fast foods everywhere. However, most sugar cravings arise because of an emotional challenge. If this is what causes you to crave sugar, there are solutions such as the Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, that can help. This technique is a simple and effective strategy to help control your emotional food cravings. Ultimately, seeking medical help or support to decrease your sugar consumption can be the best first step to cleanse your body and improve your overall health and wellness.
On average, people consume sugar from their favorite snacks and foods on a daily basis, however, processed foods and beverages can have an excessive amount of sugar which may affect the body’s overall health and wellness. The human body is not designed to handle the excess sugar and its regular consumption can lead to a variety of complications, including diabetes.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.dralexjimenez.com
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Neck pain is characterized as the most prevalent symptom after being involved in an automobile accident. During an auto collision, the body is exposed to a sheer amount of force due to the high speed impact, causing the head and neck to jolt abruptly back-and-forth as the rest of the body remains in place. This often results in the damage or injury of the cervical spine and its surrounding tissues, leading to neck pain and other common symptoms associated with whiplash-related disorders.
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "How Excessive Sugar Can Affect Overall Health" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card
Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult for individuals suffering from arthritis. Can finding… Read More
Can individuals dealing with scoliosis incorporate various exercises and stretches to improve their posture and… Read More
Could learning to apply healthy sleep hygiene habits help improve sleep and overall health for… Read More
Can incorporating natural probiotic foods help improve many people's gut health and restore functionality to… Read More
Experiencing a whiplash injury can be disorienting and painful. Can recognizing the signs of more… Read More
Individuals dealing with fibromyalgia can find natural remedies to reduce the pain-like symptoms and provide… Read More