Excessive consumption of added sugars increases the flow of calories in the diet and does not provide the body with essential nutrients to help it function at its best.
Over time, excessive sugar intake increases the risk of obesity, increases the risk developing diabetes, and may alone increase the risk of diseases such as some types of cancer and heart disease.
What are the symptoms of excessive sugar intake?
How do you know that you are eating a large amount of sugar, and what are the symptoms?
Here are 8 signs you're eating too much sugar and exactly what you should do if you think you're eating too much:
Appearance of digestive problems and irregular bowel movements
The author indicated that some research indicates that sugar would reduce the diversity of healthy bacteria in the intestine within one week, which contributes to a slowdown in the performance of the digestive system.
Mood swings and quick anger
The author indicated that some studies have linked sugar intake to mood disorders, such as depression. In addition to fluctuations in blood sugar, sugar can negatively affect neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for controlling your mood.
Permanent tooth decay
According to the American Dental Association, sugar is the main cause of tooth decay. And when sugar remains stuck between your teeth, it will feed plaque bacteria, which will secrete acids that will contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel (the hard surface of your teeth), leading to tooth decay.
Constantly feeling hungry
Sweetened foods contain sugar and do not give a sense of satiety, and since sugar leads to a rise in blood sugar and its rapid decline, this will enhance the feeling of hunger and the need to eat more sugar.
Therefore, it is better to eat foods that contain fiber, healthy fats, and protein, such as a salad, a piece of salmon, chicken, or a light steak, which will enhance the feeling of satiety.
Feeling joint pain
The author indicated that some research has linked the consumption of sugary drinks to rheumatoid arthritis in women. On the other hand, other research revealed that people who drink more than five sugary drinks per week, including fruit juice, are more likely to develop arthritis.
Facing difficulty in losing weight
Although sugar by itself does not necessarily lead to weight gain, it may prevent you from losing it or maintaining a healthy weight. As is well known, weight gain results from excessive eating.
High blood pressure
The author referred to a scientific study published in the journal "Open Heart", which revealed that sugar is more dangerous than salt for blood pressure. In fact, a diet high in sucrose for a few weeks can lead to higher systolic and diastolic pressures. In addition, another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition revealed that consuming a sugar-sweetened drink every time increases the risk of developing high blood pressure by 8%.
Loss of desire to exercise
The author mentioned that consuming a lot of sugar can contribute to your weight gain in several ways, and perhaps the strangest of these ways is reducing physical activity. In one University of Illinois study, rats fed a diet mimicking the American diet, which contained about 18 percent added sugars, gained more body fat even though they didn't eat more calories. One reason for this increase is a 20 percent decrease in movement in mice in their small cages compared to mice that did not follow a diet rich in sugars.