Undoubtedly, sugar is delicious and tempting. Sugar is one of the essential ingredients in a human diet. But consuming excess sugar can land you in trouble. It can lead to heart-related problems, diabetes, and other issues in the body. If you start taking overdoses of sugar in your daily life, your body will get addicted to it. In such a case, the human body signals through some signs exhibiting that you are eating too much sugar.
Let us study some of these signs and understand them, the reasons behind them, and the possible solutions.
Sudden weight gain or inability to lose weight
Artificial sugar or added sugar has lots of unhealthy fat that doesn’t go off easily. A high sugar intake in your diet and increased insulin levels in the body can cause the body to change from “fat-burning mode” to “fat-storing mode.” In this case, all the fat that you consume is stored in your body, especially your abdomen. This causes sudden weight gain. If you are working out with the aim to lose weight, but aren’t controlling your sugar intake, you will not be able to get rid of the unwanted weight easily. This is because the fat-burning process of the body is not activated to its fullest capacity when the sugar intake is high.
Digestion problem
High sugar intake can cause stomach problems and uncomfortable digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas. It can also cause cramps and pain. Have you heard about lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance occurs when your body does not produce the enzyme that is required to break down lactose, resulting in gas, bloating, and other digestive discomforts. It may also lead to irregular bowel movements.
Mood swings and depression
With high sugar intake, the body can experience conditions like mood swings and irritability. Sugar messes with the neurotransmitters in the brain and regulates your mood. Sugar intake causes fluctuation in hormones and the absorbing organs which results in mood swings. If it continues, then this cycle of glucose fluctuation can lead to depression over time.
Sleeping troubles
Blood sugar level has a very quick relation with the quality of sleep. Although sugar promotes sleep and lets you doze off quicker, it does not offer quality sleep. Your body does not get the deep restorative sleep that is much needed for the repair and restoration of the cells and energy in the body. It may result in a tiring or sluggish morning when you wake up. So, you must avoid sugar bombs like candies and cakes before bed.
Oral health problems
The sugar molecules combined with saliva and the bacteria that are present in your mouth can lead to plaque. Sugar on your teeth is like a treat for germs. When plaque is left on your teeth, it can dissolve the enamel and cause cavities and other gum diseases. Sugar intake is one of the significant causes of tooth decay and cavities.
Skin problems
Skin breakouts or premature wrinkling is one of those. Sugar increases inflammation in the body which leads to wrinkles and sagging skin. With inflammation, the skin loses its elasticity, and problems like acne, dermatitis, rosacea, and psoriasis can occur. With inflammation, joint pains and muscle aches are also invited. If joint pain is caused by an injury, sugar intake can worsen it. Also, a high-sugar diet can lead to the loss of important nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium in the urine that is responsible for muscle contraction and relaxation.
Increased frequency of craving
Artificial sugar causes you to want more of it. The adrenaline release in your body that produces energy may lead to sugar craving and initiate the cycle of sugar consumption with repetition. What is the cause behind late-night sugar cravings? That’s the imbalanced hormones and glucose instability in your body. Night-time snacking is not considered to be a healthy habit because it includes a higher risk of being overweight or obese. If you consume high amounts of sugar, your brain and body get used to it. It always expects a large amount of sweetness in a diet. The body does not enjoy food that is less sweet or not sweet.
There are some more signs that depict excessive intake of sugar. If compared to proteins, fats, and fiber, sugar is the easiest to break down. If you consume sugar, it will make you feel hungry quicker and will cause cravings. Sometimes, you might notice a rise in blood pressure and you fail to recognize the reason behind it. Well, sugar intake can be one of the reasons behind it.
It leads to high blood pressure and poor circulation. This can cause poor brain functioning and lead to problems like brain fog and memory loss. High consumption of sugar also causes tiredness in the body because of raised glucose levels. Once the glucose level lowers, the adrenaline release increases to bring the sugar level back up, which causes stress and concentration issues.