According to nutritionists Vicki Edgson and
Eve Kalinik the intake of excess of sugar can lead to wrinkles, heart disease, tooth
decay and weight-gain.
The American Heart Association recommends
women consume no more than 6 teaspoons, or 30 grams, of sugar each day. Men
should have no more than 9 teaspoons, or 45 grams per day. The average person
in Britain currently consumes a whopping 238 teaspoons of sugar each week -
often without even knowing it. Indeed a large proportion of our deadly sugar
intake is hidden within snacks, drinks and foods such as soups, yoghurts and
ready meals. Sugar’s nutritional value is in carbohydrate, it contains no
vitamins, minerals or fat and its being proven to be a major factor in causing
obesity and diabetes worldwide. it’s never been more important for us to pay
attention to the secret sugars that are sneaking their way into our daily diets
- if most people knew the extent sugar was really harming their body, they
wouldn’t look at a bar of chocolate the same way again.
IT’S THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF PREMATURE
WRINKLES
“Too much sugar consumption forms a process
called glycation and end products called AGEs (yes it does what it says!), says
expert Nutritionist Eve Kalinik. “This affects the structure and flexibility of
proteins and the most vulnerable of these in the skin are collagen and elastin
which are the ones needed for plump and firmness. This also leaves the skin
much more susceptible to the effects of environmental damage too.”
IT HARMS YOUR HORMONES
“Sugar upsets your hormone levels, so watch
out if you’ve discovered you have imbalances such as PCOS – (Polycistic Ovarian
Syndrome), Endometriosis or heavy periods, says expert Nutritionist Vicki
Edgson. “While you might crave chocolate prior to your period for the magnesium
it contains to relax cramping muscles, choose dark low-sugar chocolate which is
more likely to help, without harming at the same time.”
IT DRAINS YOUR ENERGY
“Sugar deprives you of energy, rather than
contributing to increased amounts. Athletes in particular, know this. Eating
high sugar foods prior to a race or hurdles only slows you down. Susannah
Taylor found this on her training towards her triathlon, and Sarah Vine can
vouch for this when she experienced her various delving into diets that don’t
work.” Vicki recommends snacking on an apple, core and all if you’re looking
for a little lift. “Plenty of fibre combined with the inherent glucose in a
food is the best way to ‘get your fix’ – with the glucose being released more
slowly and consistently.”
IT’S LIKE AN ADDICTION
“Sugar is highly addictive since it affects
satiety hormones (the ones that tell us we are full) and that’s why we continue
to eat it”, says nutritionist Eve Kalinik. “It also stimulates dopamine in the
brain, giving that pleasure effect, so with the two together it can be a pretty
difficult habit to break!”
IT ROTS YOUR GUMS
Not just a danger to your teeth, sugar also
hugely contributes to the rotting of your gums. “This in turn then leads to
gingivitis and causes your teeth to fall out”, says Vicki. She advises chewing
parsley to naturally sweeten your breath and strengthen up the gums.
IT CAN BE HIGHLY DISRUPTIVE FOR THE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
“Sugar feeds the yeasts in our guts”, says
Eve. “Since 80% of the immune system resides in the gut, it’s important to
maintain a healthy balance of the good bacteria so we can fight off viruses and
bugs.”
IT MAKES YOU SWEAT
“Sugar makes you sweat more profusely, and
it isn’t a sweet odour either. As sugar is a toxin, the body will try to get rid
of it anyway it can, and it won’t just be through the sweat glands in your
armpits.” Nutritionist Vicki Edgson recommends using natural deodorant to stay
protected and eating fresh fruit rather than dried.
IT CAN LEAD TO HEART DISEASE
“Sugar can be a significant contributor to
heart disease since it increases triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol, insulin
resistance and also leading to thickening of the arterial walls”, says Eve. All
major risk factors.
SUGAR MAKES YOU FART
The more you eat, them, the worse the
stench, aside from being just feeling bloated and uncomfortable. “Sugar feeds
the pathogenic bacteria in your gut, leading to cravings for more of the same”,
says Vicki. “Don’t eat probiotic yoghurt, which simply has added sugars to
‘feed the good bacteria’ – it’s nonsense! Take a good quality probiotic
supplement such as Optibac or Biokult, which provide you with multiple strains.
IT DRIES OUT YOUR SKIN
“Refined sugar (bleached, blanched, and
anything ending in ‘ose’ such as fructose, galactose, sucrose) all cause
dehydration to skin cells, resulting in that creepy, thin-looking skin that is
anything but healthy”, says Vicki Edgson. “Sugars bind to the essential fatty
acids that make up the outer layer of our skin cells, preventing the nutrients
getting in, and the toxins getting out. So, rather than spending fortunes on
skincare remedies, why not cut back on your sugars, and treat yourself to a
great facial every month – far better value.”
