Today, an inhabitant of the planet, on average, uses 17 teaspoons of sugar in one form or another per day (the average German eats about 93 g of sugar, Switzerland – about 115 g, and the USA – 214 g of sugar), and sometimes without even knowing it. In fact, a huge part of the harmful sugar is found in such seemingly innocent snacks and foods as yoghurts, ready-made soups, sauces, juices, “diet” muesli, sausages, all low-fat foods. At the same time, sugar has absolutely no nutritional value and, as has already been proven, is the main risk factor for obesity and diabetes in the world. And here are some more results from sugar consumption.
Energy depletion
Sugar deprives you of energy – and it takes much more than it gives you. For example, eating high-sugar foods before a sporting event will only take away your energy.
Fomaʻi vailaʻau
Sugar is addictive because it interferes with the production of the hormones responsible for feeling full. And since the hormones that are supposed to tell us that we are full are silent, we will continue to absorb it. It also stimulates the production of dopamine in the brain, which is responsible for pleasure, so when the two are combined, a bad habit can be difficult to overcome.
Faʻaopoopoina afu
Sugar makes you sweat harder, and the smell is not sweet. Since sugar is a toxin, the body will try to rid itself of it by any means possible, and not just through the sweat glands in the armpits.
Maʻi fatu
Sugar is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as it increases triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and also leads to thickening of the artery walls.
Depletion of the skin and the appearance of premature wrinkles
Refined sugar (snow-white, refined, and in general any sugar that ends in “oza” – for example, fructose, galactose, sucrose) causes dehydration in skin cells. As a result, the skin becomes dry, thinned and unhealthy. This is because sugars bind to the essential fatty acids that make up the outer layer of skin cells, preventing nutrient intake and the release of toxins.
In addition, excessive consumption of sugar provokes a process called glycolation and the formation of its final products. This affects the structure and flexibility of proteins, and the most vulnerable of them – collagen and elastin – are necessary for the skin to be smooth and elastic. Sugar also makes the skin more sensitive to environmental influences and, as a result, provokes skin damage.