Sugar Addiction Not So SweetAre you an addict? It may not be as harmful as heroin but sugar addiction is very real and it affects our lives in insidious ways. Basically, carbohydrates consist of different types of simple sugars. Your body uses these sugars to create energy for your cells. Any sugars left unused are stored as glycogen in your liver and muscles. Your Body Knows BestWhenever it needs to, your body can access these glycogen stores by breaking them down into glucose to be released into your bloodstream.When your brain informs the liver that enough glucose has been used to satisfy its energy needs, the glycogen levels in storage will increase until the liver and muscles reach capacity. The remaining carbohydrates are then converted into fat for storage in adipose tissue. Oh-oh! There’s the fat word. You got it - body fat. Burn Your Fat ReservesIf you were to limit your carbohydrate intake to about 40% of your daily calories, your body would tap into its fat reserves for almost unlimited energy and that is very cool.Unfortunately, most of us eat much more than that in the form of sugar. With table sugar and soft drink consumption alone, most Americans are living on the edge of some serious health hazards. We need to recognize that this issue goes way beyond carrying a few extra pounds with us. Food Manufacturers are Playing YouSo, let’s call it like it is. Most of us consume way too much sugar and it’s an addiction that the food manufacturers are all too well aware of. The more sugar they pour into our foods, the more irresistible they become.The effects of our sugar addiction may not be immediately noticeable. They may even take years to show up but eventually, you or someone you know, may be faced with:
The fact of the matter is, your body needs very little sugar to function properly. The rest of the sugars you consume interfere with the absorption of nutrients, contribute to malnutrition and weight gain, and rob your body of the valuable resources it needs to keep you in good health. Return to
Weight Loss Advice
|
