There is added sugar in the most unexpected products you buy from your cookies to peanut butter from the grocery store. Today’s modern life has made everything quick, and so there is a rise in the easy to cook, ready to eat processed foods like meals and snacks that have added sugar, you may not even imagine. To name a few, aerated drinks, sweetened dairy desserts, soups, bread, ketchup, jam, protein bars, syrups, cookies, pastries, ready to eat curries, so-called healthy kinds of butter and whatnot.
Dr Kausthub Desikachar says, our body requires a certain amount of sugar daily, a simple form of carbohydrate that converts into energy to fuel our body. However, we should consume natural sugar instead of added sugar. Kausthub shares the harmful effects of sugar on the body with his readers.
Sugar weakens our cognitive abilities.
Excessive glucose in the bloodstream is toxic to the brain, resulting in delayed cognitive function. Few studies state that high sugar consumption can lead to inflammation in the brain leading to memory loss. Kausthub continues by saying, a diet high in sugar and processed foods, gives way to depression gradually.
Sugar leads to Fatty Liver.
Too much refined sugar or other sugar varieties overload your liver and forms a fatty build-up leading to the ‘Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease’.
Sugar doubles the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which abnormally high sugar levels are found in your blood. This condition leaves you with headache, fatigue, weight gain, blurred vision, frequent thirst, and increased hunger and if left untreated leads to other health hazards.
Sugar affects your immunity.
Including too much sugar in your diet can hinder the immune cells and interfere with how it fights the bacteria or infection.
Sugar quickens skin ageing process.
Wrinkles naturally occur as you age, no matter how healthy you are. Consuming a lot of sugar can speed up the process of ageing, leading to wrinkles. It also damages your collagen and elastin, thereby leaving your skin saggy.
Other Health Risks of Sugar Consumption
- Coronary heart disease
- increase the risk of cancer
- inflates the uric acid levels in the body
- damage the blood vessels in your kidney
- negatively impact your dental health
- cancer in the ovaries
- accelerated rise of adrenaline levels in children
- produce an acidic digestive tract
- sugar can cause asthma
- increase the risk of haemorrhoids
- sugar can cause varicose veins and increase the body’s fluid retention
- too much sugar can kill your sexual ability
Conclusion
Dr Kausthub Desikachar concludes by saying, the good news is that you can reverse these conditions by making some smart lifestyle changes. Avoid, or if unavoidable, reduce significantly, human-made foods like processed or packaged foods containing added sugar. It’s time to be extra cautious when picking foods. Added sugar can be challenging to find on the ingredients label. They are listed under many names like maltodextrin, icing sugar, blackstrap molasses, caramel, high fructose syrup, corn syrup, glucose syrup solids, fruit juice concentrates, agave, etc. Natural sugar is found in wholesome foods like nuts, seeds, fresh produce of fruits, vegetables, and few grains.
Dr Kausthub Desikachar
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar is the successor and current lineage holder of the classical Viniyoga tradition of T Krishnamacharya & TKV Desikachar. He is an acclaimed yoga teacher, yoga therapist, healer and spiritual adviser. He is also an avid photographer, inspirational writer and poet.
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