How does sugar affect your health and how you age? It affects us in so many ways. I have picked out just 3 quick topics to help you learn what sugar is doing to your body and speeding the aging process.
Brain:
Have you ever been in one of those mid-day slumps where you can’t seem to think straight?
And in a daze you reach for the sugar-laden treat?
Well, what if I told you that the way your brain experiences those stimulants lights up the exact same areas as cocaine? Crazy, right?!
New research is coming out every day on just how bad sugar is for the brain. It’s as bad for your brain as being in an extremely stressful or abusive situation 24/7.
Sugar addiction can actually impair the function of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and coping with stress.
The truth is when you go off sugar your brain starts to repair itself. The brain fog you deal with everyday disappears and you feel clear and focused like never before. When sugar is your primary fuel source, not only is it damaging you on a physiological level but it’s also impairing your higher mental functioning.
Using sugar or refined carbohydrates as a pick-me-up creates a vicious cycle, the effects of the sugar wear off quickly and the low energy returns with a vengeance.
When you cut sugar out of your diet you transform this cycle and create stable, sustainable energy that allows you to actually focus and feel mentally clear. Just one of the many benefits of eliminating sugar from your life.
Hormones:
If you feel absolutely terrible before your period. If your mood is all over the place and your sleep is disturbed, you can bet that the amount of sugar in your diet is having an effect on your hormones which cause these symptoms to manifest.
Insulin and Hormones
The most powerful hormone in the body is insulin. Insulin and sugar are obviously intimately linked.
Sugar causes insulin to spike and according to Dr. Sarika Arora
“this can lead to lower levels of an important protein known as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds excess estrogen and testosterone in the blood, but when it’s low, these hormone levels increase. Insulin also increases the production of testosterone, which is then converted into even more estrogen by fat tissue in the belly.
These effects mean the ratio of estrogen to progesterone (known for keeping us calm and happy) is way too high, leading to irritability, anxiety, insomnia and more.”
Adrenal Health
Adrenal fatigue is the most common hormonal imbalance in women, probably because we do so much and are often under chronic stress. Adrenal health is pivotal for ensuring your hormones are working as they should. Sugar robs the adrenal glands of the nourishment they need and creates even more stress in the body.
When you ditch the sugar you’ll soon realize not only does your body feel better but your mood will improve and dreadful PMS will subside.
Digestion:
Healthy vital digestion is crucial for looking and feeling your best. It’s an essential part of the detoxification process as well as ensuring your body gets all the nutrients it needs.
When your digestion is inhibited or not working as it should, your whole body suffers the effects. Sugar’s effect on the digestive system has less to do with the systems mechanical functions, and more to do with the inhabitants that keep things working as they should: your gut microbiome.
The little bacteria that live in your gut are linked to more than just digestive health. These little microbes are essential for a healthy immune system and hormonal balance. When the bad bacteria in your gut outnumber the good, your inner ecosystem loses balance and the results are poor digestion, candida overgrowth, parasites and more serious digestive issues like leaky gut syndrome or IBS.
Even minor symptoms like gas, bloating, and skin problems all link back to an imbalance in the gut microbiome. Sugar is the main culprit that throws off this delicate internal balance
Sugar feeds bad bacteria and makes them thrive, while good bacteria love healthy foods that are high in nourishing fats and fiber.
When you get rid of sugar you literally starve the bad bacteria that cause every system in your body to suffer. Just another reason to ditch sugar and start feeling totally vital and energized!
When I am doing either my Seasonal Clean Eating Reset or the NeoLife 3 Day Detox, I notice the sugar cravings are gone in 1-3 days. It’s amazing how powerful sugar is and that we can take control of it.
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I help women in their 40's - 60's who are overwhelmed by what to eat, feel exhausted, lost in yo-yo dieting and desperately want a health blueprint for their body in the midst of information overload. I created a 3 step approach to help women discover their divine blueprint so they have more energy for life, have better sleep and less belly bloat when they eat. Are you ready? 