You probably already know that having too much sugar is bad for you. The main culprits are sugary drinks, candy, and baked goods. Modern western diets are filled with sugar and processed foods, which puts you at risk of developing diabetes and obesity. With obesity numbers increasing rapidly, healthcare providers are emphasizing the impact of sugar, fat, and carbs on your health.
Below, we list some of the reasons that sugar can negatively impact your wellbeing, so you make the best decisions to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Weight Gain
There are multiple studies that have shown a relationship between sugary foods and weight gain. Sweetened food and drinks provide very little nutritional benefits, and instead increase the risk of diabetes or poor oral health. It is a fact that your body needs glucose to function, however, when you ingest too much, your body converts it into fatty acids that are stored in adipose fat cells, such as the thighs and the stomach.
Tooth Decay
Ingesting too much sugar will lead to tooth decay. There is a common misconception that sugar causes cavities, which is not true. However, the bacteria in your mouth that interact with sugar will cause cavities.
Skin Problems
If you have started to notice that you are breaking out and having additional skin problems, you may want to look at your diet. Researchers have found a positive association with consuming food high in glycemic indexes with skin problems. In addition, having too much sugar can also make your skin age faster. Excess sugar in your body will attach to proteins in your bloodstream to create AGE molecules, which do exactly what their name is, age you, by damaging the collagen and elastin in your skin.
At Risk of Pre-diabetes
When you eat anything with glucose, your body releases insulin, which helps it process that glucose into energy. The problem arises when you are ingesting too much sugar and your body has a large output of insulin, you are at risk of developing insulin resistance.
Joint Pain
If you are experiencing joint pain, excess sugar in your diet may be the cause. Having lots of sweets has been shown to increase joint pain, because of the inflammation they cause in your body. In addition, there have been studies that have concluded that the over-consumption of sugar increases your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
By having a balanced diet of proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates, you will be able to prevent blood sugar spikes and the body’s insulin responses that result in diabetes.
As you can see, having too much sugar puts your short-term and long-term health at risk. For all of your special health or pharmacy needs, visit us at MacDonald’s Prescription #3. We have a fully qualified staff equipped with the knowledge and expertise to help you get your health back on track.