Sugar: It is perhaps the most overlooked and dangerous component of Westernized diets. It has been linked to a myriad of diseases, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and stroke. However, Americans seem oblivious to these risks. The average U.S. adult consumes 1 pound of refined sugar in as little as a week. Sugar is everywhere and, in prepared foods, is perhaps the hardest ingredient to avoid. Controlling sugar intake is no easy task. It’s a delicate balance between proportion and self-discipline.
Regulating sugar intake is critical for controlling blood-sugar levels. Many adults fail to realize that when we control our blood sugar, we ultimately minimize the stress placed on our internal organs. Eat too much sugar, and your body works twice as hard as it needs to. Each food you eat is eventually broken down into sugar, or glucose—your body’s primary energy source. This glucose will circulate through your body until your pancreas releases insulin to shuttle it into your body’s many cells.
Insulin Resistance
Problems arise when your blood-sugar levels are constantly elevated. Your cells can, in fact, become resistant to insulin, and you may not be able to get the energy you need from the food you consume. This is known as insulin resistance. If the condition isn’t corrected by diet, exercise, or some external factor (such as dietary supplements), the pancreas will eventually quit releasing insulin altogether. Your cells can become starved for energy. If elevated blood sugar is left untreated for significant periods of time, damage to the eyes, nerves, blood vessels, and kidneys can result, and so can diabetes.
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