Americans consume between two and three pounds of sugar per week. Sugar is processed in many foods that we eat. These foods are not just sweet. Sugar in large quantities can be found in peanut butter, mayonnaise, bread, ketchup, and many other categorically “not sweet” products.

Now let’s get to the question: Why is refined sugar bad for you?

Refined sugar is bad for you because it raises the level of insulin in your blood.

Elevated levels of insulin in the blood depress the immune system. If your immune system is depressed, its ability to fight disease is weakened.

Elevated levels of insulin in the blood can cause weight gain. Insulin promotes fat storage; therefore, when you eat foods that are high in refined sugar, your fat storage increases. Obviously, the result is rapid weight gain.

Refined sugar does not contain vitamins or minerals, so for sugar to be metabolized it must draw on the body’s reserve of vitamins and minerals. When these stores are depleted, cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism is impeded, contributing to higher blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, promoting obesity due to increased fatty acid storage around organs .

In summary, here are ways that refined sugar can affect your health: o Sugar can suppress the immune system. o Sugar can alter the mineral balance of the body. o Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and bad moods in children. o Sugar can cause a significant increase in triglycerides. o Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children. o Sugar can lower useful high-density cholesterol (HDL). o Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDL). o Sugar can cause hypoglycemia. o Sugar contributes to weaken defenses against bacterial infections. o Sugar can cause kidney damage. o Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. o Sugar can cause chromium deficiency. o Sugar can cause copper deficiency. o Sugar interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium. o Sugar can increase fasting blood glucose levels. o Sugar can promote tooth decay. o Sugar can cause heartburn in the stomach. o Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children. o Sugar can cause periodontal disease. o Sugar can accelerate the aging process, causing wrinkles and gray hair. o Sugar can increase total cholesterol. o Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity. o High sugar intake increases the risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. o Sugar can contribute to diabetes. o Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis. o Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity. o Sugar leads to a decrease in glucose tolerance. o Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease. o Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure. o Sugar causes food allergies. o Sugar can cause the formation of free radicals in the bloodstream. o Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy. o Sugar can contribute to eczema in children. o Sugar can overload the pancreas and cause damage. o Sugar can cause atherosclerosis. o Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries. o Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver. o Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver. o Sugar can enlarge the kidneys and cause pathological changes in the kidney. o Sugar can cause depression. o Sugar can increase the body’s fluid retention. o Sugar can cause a hormonal imbalance. o Sugar can cause high blood pressure. o Sugar can cause headaches, even migraines. o Sugar can cause an increase in delat, alpha, and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind’s ability to think clearly. o Sugar can increase the adherence of blood platelets, increasing the risk of blood clots and strokes. o Sugar can increase the insulin response in those who eat high-sugar diets compared to low-sugar diets. o Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

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