We all know sweets, candy, and baked goods are bad for our health, but many people don’t realize sugar also harms your looks! Sugar affects several physical features. It can dramatically change the appearance of your teeth, skin texture, face puffiness, body shape, and more. Too much sugar, whether it’s added or natural, can harm your health.1 In particular though, too much added sugar can place you at a greater risk for heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions. In order for your body to process blood sugar, your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. Think of insulin as a key: it allows the sugar to enter your cells. But when lots of sugar enter your bloodstream at once, the pancreas releases lots of insulin to try and keep up. If this happens often enough, you can develop insulin resistance: when your cells gradually stop responding to insulin, and sugar builds up in the bloodstream.
As long as you stay below the recommended daily amounts for added sugar, consuming it is unlikely to cause weight gain. However, several studies show that diets high in added sugar are associated with obesity and being overweight. A sweet tooth can get you into trouble if you’re not careful about removing the sugar that sticks to your teeth. Over time, bacteria in your mouth can break down the sugar to produce an acid. This acid gradually destroys the surface of your teeth, causing dental cavities. Too much bacteria can also lead to infected or inflamed gums, resulting in gum disease. Added sugars are both indirectly and directly linked to heart disease. Diets with greater than 20% of total calories from added sugars are associated with high levels of triglycerides, a type of blood fat. Elevated triglycerides can boost your risk for heart disease.
Another reason to reduce your sugar intake: It may improve your skin health. Cutting out added sugar can give you a more beautiful and youthful look because of its effects on the skin. Eating too much sugar can impact the collagen matrix of the skin. This matrix is what gives skin its structure, smooth and youthful appearance. What we eat may affect how our brain functions, thus impacting our mood. For example, eating healthy diets that emphasize fish, whole grains, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables (ie. Mediterranean diet) is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms.
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