10 Reasons Why Sugar Is Bad For You – Sahara Rose

So you probably know sugar is the devil but still find some excuse in the name of “balance” to keep it in your diet. “I mean, it’s not like I’m adding actual sugar to my foods!” you justify.

Sugar free cookies

I don’t think I’d be the first to tell you that sugar is practically in everything in the supermarket aisles. That chai latte mix, the salad dressing, the flavored yogurt, the marinara sauce, the granola bars. It all adds up.

Sugar comes in many names today, from “evaporated cane juice” to “brown rice syrup,” which fits the healthy community. Sorry to say it, but it’s the same thing to your body. Yes, it may have a slight nutritional advantage, but it’s still going to spike up your insulin levels, feed your Candida and have a host of other side effects I’m going to discuss below.

Sugar, you still can’t sit with us.

Even though we are educated about its dangers, and most people are careful not to add any to their coffee, we still consume more. Average American consumes 16% of their daily caloric intake just from added sugars, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And I’m not talking about the natural sugars found in fruit but the sneaky sources of sugar I mentioned above, plus the biggest culprit- high fructose corn syrup.

The USDA is pretty lax about their nutritional guidelines (umm, food pyramid, anyone? Thanks for that obesity epidemic!), but even their criteria are not being met. The American Heart Association recommends no more than six teaspoons, or about 25 grams, of added sugars per day for women and nine teaspoons, or about 36 grams, for men. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, more than 70 percent of Americans eat at least 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily.

Similarly, the World Health Organization has recommended we consume no more than 5% of our daily calories from sugar per day, but my recommendation- you don’t need any. Humans have lived for thousands of years without it, and it was just introduced into our diets in the past few hundred years, making us hooked.  Countless studies show our health deteriorates as our sugar consumption increases.

 

Here are just ten of the countless explanations of why sugar needs to go.

Like now. Like 10 minutes ago or even out of your pantry and life forever. You can thank me later when you’re vibrating so high you won’t know why you didn’t do this sooner.

 

1. Weight Gain

It’s nothing new everyone knows that ice cream, cookies, and cake pile on those extra pounds. But even those seemingly “healthy” foods you’re eating to lose weight, like protein bars, vegan snacks, and yogurt, maybe packed with more sugar per serving than you need per day. Read the labels, people!

2. Candida

Overeating sugar can alter the environment in your gut and encourage pathogens like Candida albicans to grow (check out my free Killing Your Candida Webinar!). Throwing off the critical balance of microorganisms in your gut flora can affect your digestion and immune system, causing bloating, yeast infections, chronic illness, and much more stuff you don’t want to be dealing with.

3. The Blues

After the rush that comes with sugar consumption, the body releases stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which cause increased stress levels and lead to long-term health issues if elevated for long periods. Some studies have also shown that increased consumption can be linked to depression. So a little bit of candy every day isn’t making you happier; it’s making you sadder.

4. Bloody gums and tooth decay

Sugar consumption is linked to tooth decay, but this saccharine ingredient can also contribute to gum disease. If your gums bleed every time you floss, there is too much sugar in your diet (and you need to floss!)

5. High Insulin levels

Too much sugar raises your insulin levels, causing your smooth muscle cells to increase and artery walls to become tense. This causes weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even heart disease/ stroke. Even if you’re young and not thinking about that stuff, remember, the disease doesn’t happen overnight but from long-term dis-ease with your health!

6. Premature Wrinkles

Our skin is the mirror of our health. Ditch the sugar if you want that mirror to be clean and clear. Glucose in the bloodstream attaches to amino acids that create free radical damage to your collagen and skin elasticity. We can’t fight age, but we can fight the wrinkles and sagging skin that is “supposed” to come with it. My grandmother is 90-years-old without a single wrinkle, and her secret– no sugar!

7. PCOS

PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) causes increased insulin levels, which cause irregular periods, increased hair growth, and inability to lose weight. Cutting sugar out of your diet can treat PCOS, helping regulate your periods and shed those stubborn pounds.

8. Low Chromium Levels causing Cravings

A whopping 90% of Americans do not get enough Chromium. 90% probably don’t know what it is. Chromium is a trace mineral known for balancing blood sugar levels in the body, so if you don’t have enough, your blood sugar levels can go wack, making you crave more of it. Increased consumption negatively affects Chromium, so it can’t do its job if you overeat sugar! The less sugar you eat=, the less you will crave. It’s like pulling a band-aid and will get easier with time.

9. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Modern research has shown us that too much fructose (not the type found in fruits but rather in high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar) can damage the liver, causing fat globules to build up around the liver, potentially leading to fatty liver disease. When fructose enters the liver, it causes a series of complex chemical transformations. One remarkable change is that the liver uses fructose, a carbohydrate, to create fat in lipogenesis. Give the liver enough fructose, and tiny fat droplets accumulate in liver cells. This buildup is called a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease because it looks like what happens in the liver of people who drink too much alcohol.

10. Unstable Blood Glucose

Experiencing constant fatigue or mood swings? These highs and lows are often caused by the swings in blood glucose when sugar intake is too high. People who do not excessively consume sugar have significantly fewer sweet cravings and significantly higher control of their behavior and cognition. Instead of reaching for it to keep you awake in the afternoon, have some healthy fats, like nuts or avocado, which will make you more alert!

 

So now that I just burst your sugar bubble let me build it back up. You can still eat things that taste sweet.

 

Recommended Read: Why we Binge Eat!

 

Super Sweet Alternatives

 

1. Liquid Stevia

My favorite sweetener is organic, liquid stevia because it is plant-based (made of a cactus) and has NO impact on our blood sugar levels! A little bit goes a long way, and it is a slightly acquired taste, but I promise you it will change your life.

2. Birchwood xylitol

It is also a fantastic option, especially for baking, because it looks and tastes almost identical to sugar. Still, it is made from birchwood and has no impact on our blood sugar levels!

3. Natural Sources

There are also natural sources of sugar, such as raw honey, coconut sugar, and date sugar, which you could use to sweeten a recipe. These have nutritional benefits and are made from natural foods, so they’re much better for your body than a completely nutritionally stripped sugar. I often use a banana to sweeten up recipes as well!

 

It’s super easy to live your life sugar-free! I carry my Stevia everywhere I go, so I am by no means tempted to eat something sugar-rich to get that taste in.

 

Suggested For You: Tips to stay healthy when you don’t have the time!

 

If you are constantly craving sweet foods– look within! It’s a sign that your body is off balance. You probably lack healthy fats or protein, so eat more of that instead and watch your cravings disappear.

Remember, it takes 10-14 days for your taste buds to redevelop, so even if you are a sugar addict, you CAN entirely change your cravings by not feeding them!

 

You might also like Sugar-Free Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe.

 

LIFE is sweet- you don’t need sugar!

 

Stevia, spice, and everything excellent,

Sahara signature

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