In 1900, the average American consumed 5 lbs. of sugar per year. Fast forward 100 years and the average person now consumes 150 lbs. of sugar per year. Yikes. With heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression skyrocketing, cutting out refined sugar is the number one thing you can do to protect your health. Here are just 7 of the numerous dangers associated with refined sugar consumption.
1. Addictive: Sugar releases an opiate-like substance in the body. Enough said.
2. Toxic: Eating sugar damages your pancreas, suppresses the immune system, and depletes your body of minerals. Oh wait, there’s more.
3. Health Problems: Heart disease, cholesterol, hypertension, and hypoglycemia are all associated with sugar consumption.
4. Obesity: Sugar spikes levels of insulin in the body, the hormone that regulates the body’s metabolism, causing the body to store fat rather than burn it.
5. Emotions: Irritability, mood swings, depression, and ADD/ADHD are all linked to sugar.
6. Skin Problems: In addition to accelerating the signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, sugar also impairs the detoxifying function of liver, leading to skin blemishes and acne.
7. Tooth Decay: Love those pearly whites? Not for long once sugar erodes them away.
It’s important to note that sugar found in fresh fruit is not the same thing as refined sugar added to drinks and processed food. Sugar found in fresh fruit is also accompanied by vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients; everything your body needs to function at its best. Refined sugar, on the other hand, has absolutely NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE and actually robs your body of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, vitamin B, potassium, and magnesium.
For optimal health, eat a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, keeping the body, mind, and skin functioning at its healthiest levels.
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