10 Not-So-Sweet Ways Sugar Can Affect Your Health
Sugar may increase your risks for type 2 diabetes
It’s all a vicious cycle. If your blood sugar level is already high, you could be heading towards type 2 diabetes at full speed. “Insulin resistance requires the pancreas to produce more insulin since tissues are not as sensitive to it,” according to Ed Saltzman, MD, a scientist in the Energy Metabolism Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
After a period of time excess production, the pancreas will no longer be able to produce enough insulin to match that excess. That’s when type 2 diabetes might make its appearance. Learn how to stay healthy and more by checking this useful post: Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention.
Sugar can make you fatter
Sugar is a carbohydrate, something your body needs for energy. However, too much sugar, way more too many carbs than your body really needs, equals excess sugar being stored as fat. “In a number of studies, added sugars have been associated with weight gain and obesity, which in turn leads to increased risk of type 2 diabetes,” revealed Dr. Saltzman.
One of the reasons might be low-grade inflammation arising from obesity as well as insulin resistance. An obvious effect of the overconsumption of foods and beverages high in added sugar is excessive belly fat, which is extremely hard to get rid of. But not impossible, if you follow these 6 Golden Rules to Get Rid of Belly Fat for Good.
Sugar may increase your heart disease risk
“High intake of sugars has been associated with an increase in a type of blood lipid called very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) that has been associated with risk for cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Saltzman warns. In other words, an efficient method to keep heart disease at bay is to cut back on sugar, whatever its forms.
Sugar has also been linked to lower HDL levels, meaning the “good” cholesterol that can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, the insulin resistance caused by excessive sugar can affect the kidney and cause hypertension. Apart from sugar, check out the Top 7 Strangest Things That Can Affect Your Heart Health.
