Sugar: The Beach Body Killer

Bottom Line:

If you have a sweet tooth, you know it can be difficult to avoid sugary foods like pastries, candy, or even soda. Which sugary food is your weakness?

Researchers have proven that sugar is a key contributor to weight gain. But how?

Well, sugar is made up of two molecules: glucose and fructose. Glucose is what your body uses for energy. Fructose, on the other hand, is a molecule that your liver turns to fat and is a key contributor to weight gain and disease.

Why it Matters:

When you eat a lot of sugar, it causes your blood glucose to rise, which can be toxic. So your body produces insulin to get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells to be used for energy.

Over time, your body can actually build a resistance to insulin which means that your pancreas works harder to create the same balance. When the resistance to insulin reaches a critical point, it can result in type II diabetes. But first, your body begins storing an overabundance of fat in your fat cells. The worst part? Not only do you start “gaining weight” but your body has a tough time getting the energy out of the fat cells, which means your brain thinks you are hungry, and you eat even more. What a vicious cycle!

- Excess sugar can lead to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain.

- Eating sugary foods can result in your body storing away more fat.

- Sugar can trick your brain into thinking it’s still hungry (even after you’ve eaten a full meal).

Next Steps:

Staying fit and healthy can be challenging, but we’re here for you. How you choose to eat is one of the most important aspects of living a healthy life. When you make good choices about how you eat, how you move, and how you think - you are set up for a healthy life.

Science Source:

Sugar Consumption, Metabolic Disease and Obesity: The State of the Controversy. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2016