Sugar Season Is Almost Here

Did you know that sugar season is less than a month away? What am I talking about? Why Valentine’s Day of course! On this sweet holiday we tend, as humans, to cut a little slack and dive into a heart shape boxed of creamy caramels and smooth chocolate. Well, I hate to say it- but I will- sugar is a sweet poison.

Let’s explore 3 ways that sugar is terrible for your body – even in moderation.  First, added sugar is usually via fructose products and this will throw your liver for a loop. When fructose get turned into fat in the liver, it is shipped out as VLDL cholesterol particles. However, not all of the fat gets out, some of it can lodge in the liver. This can lead to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a growing problem in Western countries that is strongly associated with metabolic diseases.

So, sugar can not only strain liver function, but it can mess with your metabolism and lead to other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and oral health issues.  And many scientists are starting to believe sugar is linked to cancer. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is characterized by uncontrolled growth and multiplication of cells. Insulin is one of the key hormones in regulating this sort of growth. It is for this reason alone that many scientists are starting to  believe that having constantly elevated insulin levels (a consequence of sugar consumption) can contribute to cancer. Yikes!

There are so many negative effects on the body associated with sugar that I have decided to write a blog series about it.  You will see more info. on sugar and how it harms the body in the up and coming weeks. Please also connect with me on social media to submit your questions and comments.

Roseann