Sugar + Inflammation
Bad News in the Body
There is a lot of evidence that suggests eating too much sugar and too many refined carbs cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation caused by eating habits could lead to big health problems: heart disease and cancer as well as more frequent lifestyle health problems such as obesity, insulin resistance and increased gut permeability (which leads to food sensitivity).
What Does This Really Mean?
More Wrinkles: It means you age more quickly. Increased sugars are linked with elevated AGEs (advanced glycation end products), which are harmful compounds that cause internal stress and inflammation–and ties to aging.
Muffin Top: Too much sugar in your system is tightly linked with inflammation caused by too much insulin, causing insulin resistance and weight gain especially in the midsection.
Gas/Bloating/Digestive Upset: Inflammation from food flaring the immune system because it is not fully digested and causes digestive distress. Not fun.
What Can You Do?
There are several things you can do. Exercise is a biggie. Change in diet is huge, as is dropping overall load of sugars, especially from processed sugars coming from processed foods, drinks and anything refined.
Start Small + Make Big Changes
What is ONE thing you can change to get rid of sugar in your daily habits?
Try This:
- Change fat free coffee creamer (filled with sugar) to ½ and ½
- Watch your salad dressings; choose a basic vinaigrette
- Check your chocolate habit
- Add an apple and peanut butter at 3pm so at 4pm you don’t eat anything refined
- Add a hard-boiled egg at 10am so you can choose wisely at lunch
- Eat breakfast, which stops the late-night chip and sugar cravings
For more info on sugar, inflammation or feeling your best through smarter food choices, contact our holistic nutritionists. It’s a personal puzzle, but we can assist in figuring out what’s best for your body.
Read more on sugar issues and book a free 20-minute consultation with Healthy Nest Nutrition owner Robin Hutchinson.