How Excessive Sugar Can Harm Your Health?
We, humans, are hardwired to crave sugary items. Sounds too good to be true, right? It has to do with the sugar’s relation to the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is nothing but a neurotransmitter that plays a huge role in the reward system. It influences the feelings of pleasure and motivation, which makes us crave sugary food items again and again.
However, consuming an excessive amount of sugar can severely harm your health. From obesity to diabetes and everything in between, sugar can harm you in plenty of ways. In this insightful blog post, you’ll learn about the diseases that can be caused by excessive sugar. So, let’s begin with the first disease!
1. Obesity
Did you know that obesity isn’t just a silent killer but a facilitator for so many diseases? In fact, 16% of the global adult population is obese, whereas 43% of the world population is overweight. One major reason that has contributed to such a dire situation is the sugar craving, which might become impossible to negate for these individuals. The amount of calories that sugary food items contribute to your daily intake is exorbitant, increasing the chances of obesity. The worst part about obesity is that it causes other deadly diseases as well.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Are you aware of the fact that more than 10% of the adult population suffers from diabetes? Furthermore, it is projected that by 2045, one in every eight adults will be suffering from this disease. High sugar intake is one of the biggest factors that can cause or worsen type 2 diabetes. If a person is addicted to sugary drinks, it can lead to insulin resistance. As a result, they can develop type 2 diabetes, which will only worsen with time.
3. Heart Disease
In the US alone, more than 5% of adults have been diagnosed with heart disease. That percentage is only rising, which is bound to cause a lot more accompanying issues for those who will face these issues. The intake of a high quantity of sugars is often linked with different types of factors that are associated with heart disease. Some of these factors are increased blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. Inflammation is another issue that’s associated with heart disease.
4. Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, which is more commonly known as dental caries, has a clear association with sugar consumption. The bacteria present in your mouth metabolize sugar, which produces an acid which demineralizes the tooth enamel. That’s why regular consumption of free sugar is bound to increase tooth cavities. It is one of the major oral health issues that you can face because of the reckless consumption of sugar.
5. Liver Disease
In case you’re having an excessive sugar intake, your chances of suffering from liver disease are bound to increase. It’s because the fructose present in the sugar can lead to liver disease, particularly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). The liver digests fructose quite differently from other types of sugars. So, the liver converts it into fat, which is bound to lead to a buildup in the liver. This buildup can transform into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and even liver cirrhosis.
6. Cancer
There’s no direct relation between cancer and excessive sugar consumption, but there are indirect links between the two. One of the major factors is that sugar consumption causes weight gain which is one of the biggest risk factors for some cancers. Alongside this, cancer cells rely on glucose for their growth. So, high sugar intake can give them the necessary energy to grow further.
7. Addiction
High sugar intake can lead to addiction-like behaviour in some individuals. It occurs because the intake of sugar releases dopamine, which is exactly what addictive substances do. With time, it can lead to cravings and even a loss of control over sugar consumption.
8. Mental Health Issues
You would be surprised to know that eating a huge amount of sugar can cause several mental health issues. The major ones that are the most common in some individuals are depression and anxiety. There have been several studies which suggest that high sugar consumption can have a negative impact on cognitive functions. Moreover, it can even disrupt the regulation of someone’s mood, along with mimicking addiction-like behaviours.
9. Premature Aging
Do you know that there have been several studies in which a huge consumption of sugar has been associated with a higher risk of premature aging? The reason behind this is simple: excess sugar leads to the formation of Advanced Glycation End Products(AGEs), which have a damaging effect on collagen and elastin. It can lead to wrinkles, sagging skin, and even delayed wound healing.
10. Cognitive Decline
Excessive sugar intake has a clear relation with cognitive decline and can even lead to dementia in older adults. Some of the probable factors include increased sugar levels, insulin resistance, and even the impact on blood vessels inside the brain.
Final Words
Consuming sugar in excess can not only cause you acute diseases but also chronic ones. The worst aspect of high sugar intake is that some of the diseases which are a byproduct of it can even be fatal. So, you need to limit your sugar intake over time if you don’t want to face different types of health complications in the future.
Are you someone who’s suffering from diseases such as obesity, diabetes, or even issues related to the heart? If your answer is in the affirmative, we can help you a lot. Enroll in our APEX31 program today and get back your health in a month. Contact us now to reclaim your health!
