Before you start jumping to conclusions, let us tell you that we are talking, in particular, about added sugars this time around. Nowadays, almost every food item that we come across has “sugar” as an ingredient in it! And trust us when we tell you that, added sugar has to be one of the worst ingredients in today’s diet!
Added sugar can have a number of harmful effects on your health and can also lead to quite many diseases as well. Apart from this, it also negatively affects your metabolism. But here we want to highlight the top 3 reasons why sugar is bad for your health, so read on to know more!
Harmful to the Liver
Sugar is made up of two essential components; Glucose and Fructose. Before entering the bloodstream, sugar is broken down into these two elements. Glucose is usually a naturally occurring substance that is found in every living cell on the planet. Usually, it so happens that even if we don’t get it from our diet, it is produced in our body as well. However, unlike Glucose, Fructose is different. Our body does not essentially produce fructose naturally and neither does it need it. The main issue with fructose is that the liver is the only organ that can metabolize it effectively!
If fructose is taken in moderation, it is always a better idea, since the liver will easily be able to turn it into glycogen which it stores to be utilized later. But if one has fructose in excess, then there is a chance that the liver will become overloaded, and the body will then force the liver to turn the fructose into fat instead. In such a case, with continuous consumption of fructose, the liver will get overloaded as a result of which it can lead to fatty liver, which, in the long run, can lead to cirrhosis and even liver failure.
Insulin Resistance
Insulin is one of the most important hormones produced in our body that helps us in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It allows the glucose in the blood, to enter the cells in our body and instructs these cells to utilize it instead of utilizing fat. Too much of glucose, when present in the blood, can lead to various complication, especially in people with diabetes, like blindness.
When we consume too much sugar, the functions of insulin start becoming null and void and the cells in our body also start becoming resistant to it. This is basically what is known as insulin resistance, and is an underlying cause of many serious ailments, including, but not restricted to obesity, cardiovascular issues and type II diabetes.
Builds Up Cholesterol
Ofcourse saturated fats are bad for your health, no one can question that. But did you know that there is a more than likely chance that heart diseases are caused by the effect that fructose has on one’s metabolism? Many of the recent studies have proved that fructose can cause the triglyceride levels in the blood to rise considerably, apart from also raising the dense LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and oxidized LDL levels.
Other than these side effects, sugar also contributes to the build-up of fats around the abdomen, which is a root cause of abdominal obesity. All these problems and symptoms combined can contribute to the development of a lot of heart diseases!
So the next time you decide to reach for the extra serving of your favorite cereal for breakfast or that “healthy” whole-wheat cracker, think again! Keep in mind the things we have talked about here and you will be better off when it comes to leading a healthier life!
