How does sugar affect your body and brain?

We are all aware that sugar is bad for our body, but did you realize that sugar can also be bad for your brain? In actuality, sugar interferes with your brain's normal processes and raises your chance of cognitive decline in later life. You can live a long and healthy life by making healthier decisions in the future by being aware of what happens to your body when you ingest sugar.

 

Poor eating practices impair your memory.

You can maintain good cholesterol levels, prevent high blood pressure, fend against heart disease, and more by eating a balanced diet full of vitamins and nutrients. What about less healthy eating practices, though? Even if you are generally healthy, eating a lot of sugar can harm your memory, according to research.

 

According to a study conducted by psychologists at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and published in May 2012, rats who consumed a diet containing 25 percent of their daily caloric intake from sucrose (the equivalent of 10 cans of soda) experienced significant memory impairment after just six weeks.

 

Sugar can make you cranky.

Sugar has long been recognized to cause mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, and sadness among people who are prone to these conditions. They're only now starting to see why some people respond negatively while others don't.

 

Dopamine is the happy hormone responsible for emotions of pleasure, satisfaction, enjoyment, motivation, addiction (both behavioral and substance-related), attention span/concentration, sleep quality (particularly REM sleep), motivation, and pretty much everything else connected to happiness. As you can see from the impact dopamine has on so many facets of our lives, dopamine is extremely important for controlling our emotions.

 

Sugar can impair cognitive ability.

Too much sugar consumption can have negative effects on a variety of facets of your life, including your ability to think clearly. Fructose (sugar), especially when ingested in excess, has negative impacts on learning, memory, and behavior, according to a 2013 study from the University of California-Los Angeles. Rats, for instance, displayed higher levels of anxiety as a result.

 

To be clear, the researchers do not believe that all forms of sugar had the same effects on people as they did on rats, but they stated that their findings serve as a warning against taking sugar in excess on a regular basis. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, the lead researcher, said at the time to Live Science, "I'm not urging people to stop eating fruit."

 

Sugar lowers energy levels.

According to studies, sugar can have a negative impact on how our brain reacts to dopamine, a hormone that naturally helps control our perception of pleasure. Some people may experience a decrease in energy levels as a result, which may explain why they feel sleepy after consuming a sweet snack or meal.

 

Studies have also revealed that eating foods high in sugar on a regular basis can actually lower our potential for happiness. Sugary snacks might cause us to develop a tolerance for that intense degree of pleasure, making it harder for us to enjoy happier experiences like spending time with loved ones or participating in important activities.

 

Anxiety or panic attacks may result from sugar.

According to a study published in Clinical Neurophysiology, elevated blood sugar levels may be a factor in panic episodes. In other words, taking an excessive amount of sugar might cause anxiety.

 

When you eat sugary foods, your blood glucose levels increase, giving you a temporary boost of energy that is followed by an unavoidable collapse. Particularly among those who suffer from anxiety disorders, this up-and-down cycle might cause tension or worry symptoms.

 

Sugar makes it difficult to focus.

Sugar quickly raises blood sugar levels, which is followed by a swift drop that makes you feel hungry. Children may find it difficult to concentrate or focus on their homework as a result of these changes. In fact, new research demonstrates that children's general academic performance is negatively impacted by added sugars.

 

If you're an adult, it's crucial to look after both your children and yourself. Many people are unaware of how quickly extra sugars from juice, drinks, and sweets may accumulate throughout our busy days. Next time you have an afternoon longing for a candy bar or cookie, consider replacing it with a cheese or nut snack.

 

Sugar has an addicting quality.

Your tongue's sweet-taste receptors, which are responsible for sensing sweet flavors, are activated by sugar. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to reward, is then released in reaction. This is comparable to how addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin impact your brain's reward systems.

 

These same sweet-taste receptors become accustomed to being triggered by intense sweetness over time when you consume sweets. You begin to need sweeter foods to make up for that intensity, and eventually you become hooked to them! Speak with an addiction professional as soon as possible if you're battling with a sweets or other food addiction before it gets out of hand.

 

 

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