The Chiropractors at AICA Tucker understand. Sugar is tasty.
But the more we learn, the more we understand that the effect sugar has on our bodies isn’t worth the delight it induces.
This taste bud favorite now tops our list of foods to steer clear of for overall health and wellness.
And it’s not just about your weight. Intrigued? You should be.
According to a study by Whole Health Source, the average American in 1820 consumed 6.3 pounds of sugar per year.
Today, studies indicate that we consume almost 130 pounds per year, making our growing addiction embarrassingly obvious. With sugar’s link to everything from hypertension to depression, it’s time to take our sweet treats more seriously.
Reduce Sugar Intake
Most folks assume all the sugar talk these days is derived from weight loss goals, but not so. Sugar can potentially damage many systems in the body, most notably our hearts. Consuming increased levels of sugar promotes an insulin response in our bodies that taxes the pancreas.
Sugar eventually gets stored as fat, which makes the heart work harder and promotes inflammation in the lining of the circulatory system.
Another common fallacy is that only people with diabetes need to be concerned with their sugar intake, but that is untrue. Everyone needs to be involved with sugar because, as a society, we are consuming so much more sugar than in the past.
This lack of moderation has led to increased research and identification of sugar’s detrimental effects.
How To Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Reducing your sugar intake is important, but do it the right way.
Like any change, you want to reduce it gradually to avoid a withdrawal response. In the initial stages of cutting down, you’ll experience cravings, but the less you consume and the longer hold out, the less you’ll crave it.
Replace sugary treats with naturally sweet fruit; the fiber will help your body digest the natural sugars. And remember, sugar is hiding in surprising places.
Avoid processed and packaged foods to control your ingredients and know just how much sugar you’re consuming.
Finally, if you drink sugar-laden soft drinks or energy drinks, don’t.
These beverages are just sugar under another name. Get started today by making just one sugar-related change: choose water.