It might not seem like a big deal to grab a candy bar while you are in line at the grocery store, but that seemingly simple sweet treat can be quite harmful to your health. Researchers are examining the impact of processed sugar on the human body, and they are finding that there are numerous ways in which processed sugar is damaging our health.
Physical Effects of Processed Sugar
When you eat a candy bar or any other type of sweet treat that is made with processed sugar, it causes a domino effect that impacts many aspects of your health. Many people know that sugar is associated with weight gain, but they are only thinking about calories and not the actual ingredients that are in the food.
In fact, some health practitioners now refer to sugar as a poison because it is so harmful to your health. The body is unable to use the refined starch, and the calories are void of vitamins and minerals that are needed for basic functions. When your body is working so hard to get rid of the toxic effects of processed sugar, then it becomes much more difficult to lose weight.
Sugar causes hormone disruptions which affect the way your major organs are functioning and has a direct impact on your weight loss goals. Researchers have found that excess fructose (processed sugar) intake causes the maturation of visceral fat cells, which sets the stage for a bigger belly. Processed sugar also increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and a number of other health problems.
Mental Effects of Processed Sugar
Many people are familiar with the idea that sugar impacts their physical health and leads to weight gain, but they don’t understand the numerous mental side-effects of processed sugar. When you eat processed sugar, it can actually wreak havoc on your brain and it causes a cycle of cravings and food addictions… making it even harder to lose weight.
Sugar causes certain parts of the brain to light up and produce “feel-good” hormones, which impacts the way the reward pathway within the brain works. Even though it is probably harmless to enjoy a piece of chocolate every so often, you will run into problems if that portion of the brain is activated too much or too frequently.
It has been found that processed sugar consumption is associated with many aspects of mental health, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Memory and Learning
- Dementia
- Cognitive Decline
Improve Your Health by Avoiding Processed Sugar
One of the best things that you can do to improve your physical and mental health is to avoid processed sugar as much as possible. If you want to learn more about improving your health and wellness, be sure to subscribe to my podcast where I regularly share details about healthy eating, fat loss for women over forty, and daily lifestyle habits that impact your wellness.
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