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5 surprising effects of sugar on your health

This week is sugar awareness week. Supermarket shelves are full of products with hidden sugar. Now why should we be aware of how much we consume?

Well, it is now common knowledge that too much sugar can affect our health. Today I am sharing 5 surprising effects of added sugar on our health that we may not associate.

First a little explanation

Glucose (also called blood sugar) is essential for our body to function. It is the main source of fuel for your brain alongside healthy fat. Sugar comes in many forms known as glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, even honey and maple syrup. We get glucose from grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The body doesn’t need added sugar to function well. However, you may feel differently right now especially if you experience regular sugar cravings.

Sugar in a bowl

The body does not need added sugar to function well. In any case, sugar consumption should not exceed 6 teaspoons a day for women and 8 for men.

How I felt about sugar all these years ago…

In my 20’s I used to rely on sugary treats to keep my energy levels high. I was working hard, exercising hard and always on the go. Later on, I discovered that, even though I was not overweight, I was damaging my body by feeding it the wrong fuel.

Glucose is directed towards each of our cells to provide us with energy. Insulin is the hormone required to do this and its role is to open the door to our cells so they can use glucose as energy.

When the body receives too much glucose, Insulin stops working. If this process is repeated over a long period of time, it can lead to the development of diabetes. The excess glucose is stored by the liver or converted into fat. This can result in a condition called Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

5 surprising effects of excess sugar on our health

  1. Sugar destroys the good bacteria in your gut. Research shows that the diversity of baceteria in our digestive system is affect by sugar. You may experience this through skin issues, digestive discomfort, inflammation or brain fog.
  2. Overconsumption of sugar can be addictive for the brain. Here is a great video showing  you how this happens. https://unitedbrainassociation.org/2020/06/28/how-sugar-affects-the-brain/
  3. Sugar can mess up with your sleep. Research shows that people who have diets high in sugar tend to sleep less deeply and display greater restlessness at night. 
  4. High sugar intake can negatively impact your sex hormones. If you are trying to get pregnant, reducing sugar will help improve the quality of both egg and sperm
  5. Sugar can damage your skin. This process is called glycation. Excess sugar in your blood stream produces harmful free radicals responsible for breaking down the collagen in our skin.

Should we be scared of sugar?

Sugar is not evil like many people will make you believe. We need some glucose to function fully. Personally, if I want to eat a piece of birthday cake, I will without any regrets.

The important point to remember is for you to develop a good relationship with it. As part of a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, healthy fat, wholegrains, protein and some fruits, treats are fine. However, if having something sweet after a meal has become a habit, you can change this. I have done it myself and now I can help you feel free from sugar cravings.

Healthy treats
Healthy treats

Here is what one client said:

My biggest issues were my high sugar and carb intake which was having a dramatic effect on my hormones/PMT. Your diet guidance proved to work wonders and I no longer wish to have sugar as much as I did, Healthier food replacements have been found and I feel great!” Mrs S.S.

How do I book a nutrition session?

If you are interested in breaking the sugar craving cycle, feel free to reach out. I offer a free chat to explore the options available to you. You can email me on s.olmi@savoirfayre.co.uk or you can call me on 07983335647.

You can also request a free chat online HERE.

To find out how I work visit https://www.savoirfayre.co.uk

Healthy treats
Mum and Daughter having fun with food

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