Are you wiping out a lot of the benefits right after your workout at Revolution Training in Stamford, CT, by grabbing a sweet treat loaded with sugar? A post workout snack is good for your recovery and to boost your energy level, it has to be food that boosts your health, which doesn’t describe food with added sugar. Sugar found in food naturally, like fruit, also comes with complementary nutrients, such as fiber that slows the absorption of sugar. Sugar in manufactured products, such as those in a candy bar or soft drink, go to your bloodstream quickly, increasing insulin levels and playing havoc on your body.
Obesity is a huge problem today and part of the problem comes from insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance is the warning signal that you’re about to develop type 2 diabetes. Those changes should include exercise and eating healthily, which includes removing food with added sugar from your diet. It sends a rush of glucose into your bloodstream and kick-starts the body’s manufacturing of insulin to aid in its use. Eventually, your body doesn’t respond to the insulin and the cells don’t open to receive it. That leaves high amounts of glucose in your blood, causing your body to produce even more insulin.
Sugar affects your immune system.
Your immune system not only helps to prevent diseases like the flu or colds, it also is important for removing damaged cells that can cause cancer. Vitamin C enters the cells via insulin to help the immune system and is vital for proper functioning. Sugar, in the form of glucose, is chemically similar to vitamin C, so when you consume it, the glucose competes to enter the cell, lowering immunity and leaving the body less resistant to disease.
People with high blood pressure can benefit from cutting out sugar.
Most people understand that cutting out salt is important when you have high blood pressure, but don’t realize that sugar is just as bad. The American Heart Association suggests limiting sugar to 6 teaspoons a day if you’re a woman and 9 teaspoons if you’re a man. One 12-ounce can of cola contains about 9 teaspoons of added sugar, which would meet or exceed most people’s daily allotment. Having a sugar intake that accounts for more than 25% of your daily calorie allotment can lead to both high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- If you suffer from mood swings, depression or anxiety, your problem might come from what you eat. Studies show that too much sugar can lead to all those things.
- Glucose, blood sugar, can link to collagen or elastin, it creates advanced glycation end products—AGEs. Those cause premature aging of skin and internal organs, giving you wrinkles, while increasing your risk for serious conditions.
- Sugar not only affects your mood, but it can also scramble your brain. If you’re having a hard time remembering things, learning new things or simply feel like you’re thinking slower, focus more on whole foods and skip those with added sugar.
- Because sugar affects your entire body, it can lead to poor eyesight, increase the risk of gall stones, arthritis and varicose veins. It’s easy to see if sugar is your problem by cutting it out for a month. If you feel differently, look better or see a drop in blood pressure, you’re on the right path.
For more information, contact us today at Revolution Training