10 Warning Signs That Indicate Too Much Sugar In Your Diet
While sugary treats are hard to pass up,
eating too much sugar may wreak havoc on your body, resulting in a
number of illnesses. Many diseases are on the rise, from diabetes to
cardiovascular problems, cancer, and even adrenal fatigue, due to
over-indulging in sweet, yet poisonous treats. So, if throughout the day
you often find yourself craving something sweet and comforting, you may
just be addicted to sugar. But, how can you determine whether you are
eating too much?
These warning signs may just be telling you to reduce your intake, or better yet, quit while you're ahead.
1. You feel tired and lack energy
If you often find yourself feeling tired or
fatigued, one of the main causes could be too much sugar in your diet.
This may sound contradictory, as high-sugar foods are known give you a
carbohydrate boost and temporarily boost your energy - a feeling that
often lasts for just a couple of minutes.
2. You often get sugar and carbohydrate cravings
If you find yourself craving something sweet throughout the day on a
daily basis, you are likely a sugar addict. Consuming sugar regularly
can create a chain reaction of sugar cravings. The same concept applies
to a carb craving, which may also indicate a sugar addiction.
3. You frequently get ill
If you have noticed yourself getting sick
on a regular basis, one of the causes could be excessive sugar in your
diet. Consuming too much sugar can dampen your immune system, weakening
your body's natural ability to fight colds, flu viruses, and chronic
diseases.
4. You suffer from anxiety or depression
Consuming too much sugar can cause your body to physically crash, which
can affect you on an emotional basis too. While sugar is temporarily
energy-boosting, once its effects have worn off, the physical fatigue
that arises may also be accompanied by psychological fatigue, causing
feelings associated with depression such as lethargy, sadness, and
social withdrawal. If you are often anxious, nervous or constantly
worried, it may also be a sign that your sugar-filled diet needs
adjustment.
5. You have issues with your skin
Inflammatory related flare-ups like acne or eczema, as well as skin that
is oily or dry and dark circles under the eyes - could be a result of a
diet rich in sugar. Cutting sugar may greatly improve your skin issues,
as well as your overall health. Furthermore, sugar's inflammatory
properties may also have an effect on your feet, causing conditions such
as Plantar fasciitis. This causes pain in the thick band of tissue that
runs across the bottom of your foot, in your heel or elsewhere in the
foot.
6. You are overweight
While the human body can cope with limited amounts of sugar, loading up
on sugar calories will cause the body to convert the sugar and store it
as body fat instead. Unsurprisingly, this can quickly lead to weight
problems like obesity - causing a host of problems including high
cholesterol, cardiac problems, sleep apnea and more.
7. You have high blood pressure
The general consensus says that high blood pressure is caused by sodium
in your diet, rather than sugar. In one study, conducted in 2010 at the
University of Colorado, Denver, more than 4,500 adults were studied and
the data gathered showed that there was a link between high blood
pressure and excessive sugar consumption.
8. You have dental problems
It is a well-known fact that sugar is no good for your teeth. If you
often get cavities, and require fillings or root canals, sugar could be
the cause of your problems.
9. You have diabetes
Consuming too much sugary foods can cause you to gain weight, upping
your risk for developing type II diabetes. While you may not be
diabetic, most people tend to be pre-diabetic. So, if you find yourself
constantly thirsty or hungry, despite eating and drinking frequently, if
you feel flushed after a sugar binge, or weak whenever you skip a meal,
you should talk to your doctor about your risk for diabetes.
10. You suffer from heart problems
A study conducted on rats at Case Reserve Western University concluded
that a high-sucrose diet was found to hasten death and increase the risk
of cardiac issues, even more so than high-fructose, high-fat, or
high-starch diets.