Signs that you are eating too much sugar

Signs that you are eating too much sugar

Sugar is very sweet in the mouth, making it very enjoyable when consuming it. Due to its sweetness, less attention is normally given to the quantity one is consuming. Sugar adds an amazing taste to our foods, and it’s quite difficult to eat some foods without sugar. It seems like sugar is a  compulsory ingredient in those diets. Consuming sugar is not bad for your health. The body uses sugar ( glucose) as it’s main source of energy, but as the saying goes, too much of everything is bad. As you are enjoying the great taste, kindly pay attention to the quantities you are taking as well. According to the American Heart Association, men are supposed to consume no more than 9 tablespoons of added sugar per day and women should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains contains some amount of sugar in them. Those sugars are natural sugars and they do not get absorbed quickly in the body as added or artificial sugars do. Natural sugars get absorbed slowly in the body, which is better than added sugar, which absorbs immediately after consuming it, making the body produce insulin immediately to help to absorb it, and it also raises the glucose levels in the bloodstream. Consuming too much sugar has a great negative effect on your health. Knowing the signs that you are eating too much sugar will enable you to detect it on time and avoid the  complications that accompany it.

Foods that contain high added sugar

There are foods which don’t taste  sweet in the mouth but contain a lot of added sugar. Some use sugar to preserve most of the processed foods we buy. Here are some foods which are high in added sugar.

1. Ketchup: Ketchup contains a lot of added sugar. One teaspoon of ketchup contains about one teaspoon of sugar. The more ketchup you add to your meal, the more sugar you consume.

2. Fruit juice. Most fruit juice on the market contains more added sugar than fibre. Choose fruit juice that is labeled 100% fruit juice or it’s  advisable to make your own fruit juice at home.

3. Low fat yoghurt. Low fat yoghurts contain added sugar to improve their taste and flavor. Choose a full fat yoghurt which does not contain added sugar.

4. Sports drink. Sports drink contains a lot of added sugar which helps to replace their energy lost quickly.

5. Cakes

6. Candies

Some signs that can alert you that you are eating too much sugar are

1. Depression or irritability:  One sign of consuming too much sugar is being moody, depressed or irritable. When you consume food high in sugar,  it suddenly spikes the  glucose level in your bloodstream and your body produces insulin to get it absorbed. This can make your energy levels crash and make you feel depressed and irritable. Also,  when the glucose levels suddenly drop due to  the spike in your insulin levels, your brain’s energy levels drop suddenly and make you feel depressed.

2. When you feel that foods don’t taste sweet anymore, if you need to add more sugar to foods before you are able to taste the sugar in them, it’s a sign that you are consuming too much sugar.

3. Increased hunger. Consuming sugary foods only satisfies your taste buds, not your stomach, so you tend to eat more. The sugar also makes your body absorb glucose in your bloodstream quickly and makes you feel hungry. The more sugar you consume, the more hungry you will become.

4. Obesity: The more you become hungry after consuming excess sugar, the more you eat and the more obese you become. Obesity can also lead to developing heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease and most chronic diseases.

5. High blood pressure: Consuming too much sugar causes damage to the lining of your blood vessels, which makes them prone to cholesterol and lipids to adhere to the walls of the blood vessels . When cholesterol and lipids adhere to the lining of the blood vessels, the blood vessels become hardened, making it difficult for blood to pass through them easily. The more your blood vessels get hardened, the higher your blood pressure.

6. Diabetes: Consuming excess sugar increases your blood sugar levels and makes you prone to type 2 diabetes. Also, eating excess sugar can make you obese and obesity can also lead to developing type 2 diabetes.

See also; Effects of ginger on liver

7.  Joint pains: Consuming sugar worsens Rheumatoid arthritis pain. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, minimize your sugar intake.

8. Poor skin health such as acne and wrinkles

9. Frequent fatigue

10. Poor oral hygiene or cavities.

11. Kidney diseases. Sugar damages the blood vessels that supply blood to the kidney cells. Which deprives them of needed oxygen and affects their functions as well.

12. Consuming excess sugar can damage your heart’s blood vessels and affect your heart health.

Consume sugar in moderate to keep your health on track.