The Dangers of Sugar Addiction
According to the WHO daily sugar intake guidelines, daily sugar intake should be reduced to 10% of the daily caloric intake, and less than 5% is better.
Weight Gain and Obesity
Consuming too much sugar will add too many calories. Since sugar is “empty calories” and has no protein or fiber, it cannot absorb nutrients and cannot make you feel full. A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also found that drinking sugary drinks promotes weight gain in adults and children.
Artificial foods high in sugar can cause rapid and dramatic changes in blood sugar, making people feel full quickly, but they can also make people feel hungry quickly, which is likely to make people crave more high-sugar foods. Makes people feel hungry and addicted to sugar.
Liu Pengchi pointed out that eating sugar will increase calories and lead to weight gain. It is worth noting that during the process of weight gain, you are also prone to fatigue, abnormal liver function, and even increased cardiovascular risks. These are also the effects of eating too much sugar on the body.
Affects Cognitive Function and Mood
Eating too much sugar can also make you feel depressed, especially if you eat high-sugar, processed snacks.
High-sugar foods without protein or fat can spike your blood sugar and make you feel tired, irritable, and depressed. Even a study published in Neurology found that high blood sugar hurts cognition.
Liu Pengchi pointed out that people with high sugar addiction will indeed affect cognitive function and memory. It can be found in diabetic patients that if blood sugar is not controlled well, it will increase the risk of cognitive decline and even progress to dementia. If you are exposed to high blood sugar for a long time, it will also affect cerebrovascular health.
Opal also said that poor blood sugar control is a significant risk factor for cognitive problems and cognitive impairment.
From another perspective, if you eat too much sugar, leading to obesity, it will also increase apnea, affect sleep, and also affect cognitive function. “Long-term sugar consumption may lead to diabetes. These risks will trigger a series of chain reactions. This is something we must pay attention to,” Liu Pengchi reminded.
Skin Acne and Pimples
There are many causes of acne and acne, and eating sugar is one of them. A study in JAMA Dermatology found that a diet rich in sugar, milk, and fatty foods is associated with skin problems in adults.
Sugar affects skin health. Eating too much sugar can easily affect insulin and hormones, causing skin problems. It can also form glycation end products (AGEs), which can cause skin to lose elasticity, sag, and increase spots and wrinkles. So if your skin is not in good condition, you might as well take a look at your diet to find out what the real problem is.
Affect the digestive system
“Long-term high blood sugar may affect the autonomic nervous system, leading to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which can easily lead to constipation. In addition, some studies have found that sugar intake is also related to changes in intestinal bacteria. These can affect intestinal health and even Through the gut-brain axis, it can cause depression and other diseases,” Liu Pengchi said.
On the other hand, if you eat foods with a lot of added sugar, you may be reducing your intake of fruits and vegetables that are good for your gut and body, and lacking important nutrients.
Conclusion
Hyperglycemia has widespread effects on the body, particularly on the blood vessels and nervous system. Liu Pengchi reminded that special attention should be paid to additional sugar. If you consume high sugar for a long time, your chances of developing diabetes will increase in the future. Related complications are also likely to occur, but it’s important to note that in prediabetes, there may already be risks that may affect your health. If you find that your blood sugar is high, you must be careful. Early prevention and control are needed.