Sugar is the driving force behind the diabetes and obesity epidemics. In addition, when the body can’t manage the amount of sugar in the blood, the sugar begins to damage artery walls, increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Why does sugar have such a powerful hold on us?
Consuming large amounts of added sugar activates the reward center and makes us want to eat that food again. Past memory of eating sweet things produces cues that induce the craving for more. Sugar can also change how you feel. When this happens, you can have increased cravings for sugar and feel a lack of control when around sugar. It resembles other abused substances because it is reinforcing.
While sugar is everywhere — in cookies and crackers, breads and pasta sauce — the single largest source in the American diet is sugary drinks.
Sugar is unhealthy. But is it addictive?
ReplyDeleteEating too much added sugar has been linked to a wide array of health issues ranging from obesity to heart disease. Foods and beverages with added sugar should be phased out. Using healthy substitutes for your favorite sweet treats can satisfy cravings and keep you on track. For example, swap your nightly bowl of ice cream for a clean treat like Greek yogurt topped with berries, unsweetened coconut and cinnamon.
ReplyDeleteCan you eat sugar and lose weight?
ReplyDeleteThere are absolutely zero health benefits when it comes to sugar. Sugar, which is contained in many foods, is something that everyone should stay away from as best as possible. It contains no nutrients, just empty calories. Sugar can cause your body to do all sorts of crazy things such as resist insulin, it can cause you to crave it more and more and eventually become addictive and it can cause a variety of diseases including diabetes.
ReplyDelete