Sugar is one of the most harmful ingredients you can put in your body but it’s
something many of us eat far too much of. According to the latest stats from the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the average American eats 76.7g of sugar
every day – the equivalent of 19 teaspoons per day. Below we’ll be discussing
five of the main reasons you should limit your consumption of sugar.
It Has No Nutritional Value
One of the biggest reasons to avoid refined sugar is that it contains no vitamins,
minerals or antioxidants. These nutrients are found in almost every healthy,
natural food and are essential for your body’s survival. They support all the
internal processes in your body, protect against illness and allow you to perform
at your peak.
Eating too much refined sugar often stops you getting the vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants your body needs from your diet and causes nutrient deficiencies.
These nutrient deficiencies can cause you to feel sluggish, affect how you
perform and lead to serious health problems.
It Disrupts Your Energy Levels
Sugar enters the bloodstream quickly and causes a rapid surge in energy levels,
followed by a rapid crash. While the initial sugar high may give you a few
minutes of increased energy and focus, the overall impact of these constant
fluctuations in energy caused by eating too much refined sugar is negative. It
makes it very difficult to concentrate for long periods of time, causes you to
become unproductive and makes you feel lethargic.
It Causes Weight Gain
Unlike proteins and fats which take longer to digest and have a satiating effect
on the body, sugar passes through the digestive system very quickly and doesn’t
satisfy your appetite. As a result, you still crave additional after filling up on
refined sugar and are very likely to overeat.
Sugar is also hidden in many foods such as breads, sauces and sodas. Because
it doesn’t satisfy your appetite in the same way that other foods do, these
hidden sugars add extra calories without you even noticing and cause you to
gain weight.
It Causes Liver Damage
Many of the refined sugars in foods come in the form of fructose. When you eat
too much fructose, it overloads the liver and causes it to turn fructose into fat.
This then leads to fatty liver disease and many other liver problems which have a
negative impact on your energy levels, digestion and overall health.
It Causes Inflammation In The Body
Numerous studies have shown that eating large amounts of refined sugar can
cause excessive inflammation in the body. Not only is this excessive
inflammation painful but it also damages your body’s cells and vital organs, and
can cause permanent health problems. Inflammation in the body has also been
linked with accelerated internal and external aging. Plus, it is also one of the
biggest risk factors for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart
disease.
To cut that sugar craving, try this amazingly delicious smoothie!
"CHOCOLATE BANANA BLISS SMOOTHIE"
1 cup dairy free milk or coconut water
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup kale
2 tablespoons cashew butter or almond butter
1 tablespoon raw honey or stevia
2 tablespoons raw cacao
