Sugar in moderation is important for overall health. Millions of years ago, our ancestors diligently extracted fruits and honey: sugar not only provided them with energy, but also helped to store fat for cold and hungry times. Those who did not eat enough sugar had neither the strength nor the physical ability to reproduce their kind.
As a result, the human brain has developed an interesting survival mechanism: an almost insatiable craving for sweetness. Unfortunately, it does more harm than good these days: many of us eat far more sugar than we need to survive. Besides obesity and tooth decay, this overeating has other consequences. Here are just a few of them:
срце
In a 2013 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (The Journal of the American Heart Association), scientists have found that high amounts of sugar, in particular glucose, lead to stressful heart function and decreased muscle function. If this happens for too long, it eventually causes heart failure, according to scientists from the Cleveland Clinic (Клиника у Цлевеланду).
High fructose, another type of sugar commonly found in artificially sweetened foods, lowers “good” cholesterol, the newspaper said. Здравље жена… This can cause the production of triglycerides, a fat that is carried from the liver to the arteries and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Мозак
A 2002 study at the University of California, Los Angeles (The University of California, Los Angeles), showed that a sugar-rich diet affects neuronal and behavioral plasticity, which is controlled by a chemical called brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Suppression of BDNF reduces the ability to form new memories and store new data. Other studies have linked low levels of this substance to depression and dementia.
Бубрези
The kidneys play an important role in filtering the blood, and high blood sugar forces them to push their limits and wear out. This can cause waste to seep into the body. According to the American Diabetes Association (The American Diabetes Association), decreased kidney function causes numerous diseases of the kidneys, and without proper treatment, complete failure. People with kidney failure need organ transplants or dialysis machine blood filtration.
Сексуално здравље
Since high amounts of sugar in the diet can affect blood flow, it has been linked to erectile dysfunction. In 2005, study authors from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) found that sugar interrupts the production of an enzyme responsible for erection. A 2007 study found that excess fructose and glucose in the body can turn off a gene that regulates testosterone and estrogen levels, two important sex hormones.
Зглобови
According to a 2002 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), high sugar levels in processed foods increase inflammation, causing joint pain (arthritis). For those suffering from chronic arthritis, it is best to eat as little sweet as possible.
Кожа
Excess sugar intake causes an explosion of inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin. As a result, the skin ages faster, becomes flabby and wrinkled. Sugar abusers are more prone to developing insulin resistance, which can cause excess hair growth and dark spots on the neck and skin folds.
Џигерица
Excess sugar in the body accumulates in the liver, provoking inflammation of this organ. Without treatment, the consequences can be the same as from alcoholism – cirrhosis (the formation of scar tissue in the liver). “Alcohol is the most common cause of cirrhosis, and fatty liver disease is also due to poor nutrition,” explains cardiologist Asim Malhotra of London, member of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Obesity Group.