Hey there! 😄
So, we need to talk about sugar. Oh, glorious yummy sugar----I mean who doesn't love a good sweet treat, right? (I actually know a few lucky beings, but I digress 😝) I’m very much with the sugar loving, meal skipping realm to devote my calories to sugar instead. 🫣 No judging! 😂 I absolutely love a cookie or a bar of chocolate after a meal—and you know—in between too. I’m hopeless—but I keep stumbling upon article after article warning me of too much consumption of it. And how sugar is linked to inflammation too…so fine…I’ll try and cut back and let’s learn more on it together, shall we? 🍪
First off, let's clear something up: not all sugar is bad. 🙌 Naturally occurring sugars, like those found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy, are totally okay. 🍎 Food like these is packed with fiber, essential minerals, and antioxidants that our bodies need. Plus, they release sugar slowly into our bloodstream, giving us a steady energy supply. So, we don’t have to go tossing out our apples and yogurts just yet! 🤩
The real troublemaker is added sugar – you know, the kind that food manufacturers sneak into everything from soda to cereal. 🥤 It’s not just in the obvious sweet treats like cookies and cakes, but also in unsuspecting places like bread, soups, and even ketchup. 🫢 The stats are shocking: the average adult man consumes about 24 teaspoons of added sugar daily. That’s 384 extra calories! No wonder we're facing health issues.
Speaking of health issues, did you know that a high-sugar diet is linked to heart disease? 💓 You probably did, since everyone tells us that, but what they don’t drill is the stats that consuming 17% to 21% of our calories from added sugar increases our risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 38%! 😭 Our bodies just can't handle that much sugar. It overloads our liver, raises blood pressure, causes chronic inflammation, and even tricks our appetite control, leading to weight gain.
That was already bad, but it only gets worse---high sugar intake can mess with our immune system too. 🫥 When our bodies are constantly bombarded with excess glucose, our immune response gets thrown off balance. This means our ability to fight off infections and other diseases is compromised. 🦠 High glucose levels can suppress the adaptive immune response, making it harder for our body to fend off threats effectively. This is especially concerning for those with diabetes, as they're already at a higher risk for complications like diabetic retinopathy, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. ☹️
As we discussed before as well, studies have shown that chronic inflammation is a major player in many of these health issues. Consuming large amounts of added sugars can lead to low-grade chronic inflammation, which is strongly linked to obesity and other chronic diseases. Though there is hope! ✨
Natural compounds found in plants, such as curcumin (found in turmeric) and epicatechin (found in dark chocolate), have been shown to reduce inflammation. 😉These compounds work by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and can help mitigate the damage caused by a high-sugar diet.
Also supplements like ⚪Oleia Softgel Capsule⚪ which is expertly formulated with Cetyl Myristoleate, Olive Oil, and Moringa Seed Oil to provide us with comprehensive anti-inflammatory relief and support can help too. So, incorporating more anti-inflammatory food and a dash of the best supplements into our diet can be a game-changer. 😊
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we need to swear off all sugar forever. I for one---probably, sorta, kinda---100% can’t 😅. But we do need to be mindful of our intake.
The American Heart Association suggests no more than 6 teaspoons (24 grams) of added sugar per day for women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men. That’s about the amount in a single can of soda. So, next time we’re craving something sweet, let’s try reaching for whole food, checking food labels to keep those sneaky sugars in check or eat them in moderation. 💪
One of the best ways to cut back on added sugar is to become a label detective. 🕵️♀️ Added sugars go by many names like high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, and anything ending in “-ose” (like glucose or sucrose). If we start paying attention to these and opt for food with less added sugar, we’re already on the right track. And let's be real – we all know someone who adds heaps of sugar to their coffee or tea. (That would be me!🙋♀️) Maybe it’s time we gently remind them (me 😂) that those little spoonfuls add up.
So, dear reader, let's make a pact. We don't have to give up our favorite treats entirely, but let’s be smart about it. 🤓 Let’s enjoy our sweets in moderation and focus more on whole, natural foods. Our hearts (and our future selves) will thank us. 😌 How do you manage sugar in your diet? Do you go cold turkey or sprinkle in an excellent supplement like Oleia perhaps? Tell me more? 😉
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ‘Til next time! 🥕
xo L
👀: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sugar-and-inflammation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9471313/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar
