10 Warning Signs You Are Eating Too Much Sugar
What happens when you eat too much sugar? Do you know the recommended daily allowance? Do you know how much you are currently consuming each day? If not don’t worry, you are not the only one according to a recent study which shows that less than 3% of people in the UK know the answers to the above questions.
This week I have been embarking on a no added sugar challenge after reminding myself how good I felt the last time I did this little challenge you can read more about that HERE.
I have been sharing tips from how I have been reducing sugar over on my Instagram page If you missed the start you can catch up here on my Instagram. HERE is day one if you decide you want to come and join me on this challenge, you can then scroll through to find days two, three and four.
Maybe you are thinking ‘I don’t want to give up sugar I love it too much’ and I would be there right with you on that. I am a sugar fiend, I flipping love the stuff. But, I also notice that a few of the complaints below have become a little too familiar.
Truth is that when we were younger our bodies could deal with all of the sugar a little better. But as we get older we start to see the damaging effects of sugar a little more clearly. Here are some warning signs that you too could be consuming too much sugar.
You Struggle To Lose Weight, Especially Around Your Midsection
Yup the good ole belly fat that is often the hardest to get rid of is highly linked to too much sugar. Sugar causes an inflammatory response which causes stress to the body. When the body is in a stressed-out state, the primary storage site will be the belly.
Problematic Digestion
Sugar can disrupt the gut microbiome, this is your balance of good bacteria in the gut that helps your body break down food and also supports the immune system. If your gut doesn’t effectively break down the foods you eat this can lead to bloating and irregular bowel movements.
Stiff Joints
This is because too much sugar is inflammatory (inflammation being the major role in most of these issues in this list) and that inflammatory response can lead to increased pain around the joints.
Regular Skin Breakouts
In your 30s or 40s and still get skin breakouts as if you were a teenager? I know you bet you thought you should have grown out of that by now hey, but the link between diet and skin condition is not a myth. Though there are many factors affecting different skin, such as genetics and hormonal swings, too much sugar could be making it worse. As mentioned many times sugar causes inflammation in the body, resulting in hormonal imbalances, this can cause an overproduction of sebum in the skin, pours become blocked and spots and blemishes can start to appear.
Premature Ageing
Glucose and fructose link the amino acids present in the collagen and elastin in the skin and the breakdown of this is known as glycation. Too much sugar in the body causes the release of free radicals and the increase of glycation. The body can deal with a certain amount, but once it gets overloaded these free radicals cause damage to our cells which can cause the breakdown of collagen and skin tissue. The skin begins to lose elasticity causing our fine lines to get that little bit deeper.
Fatigue & Low Energy
It’s now well documented that eating foods that are high in sugar can cause an initial spike in your energy and glucose levels. But that increase in energy is only sustained for about an hour before the crash arrives. After that time you will likely experience a significant dip and be left feeling low on energy. Anyone resonate with the 3/4PM dip? This has been huge for me this week in realising just how much more energy and focus I have had.
Always Feel Hungry
Similar to the above where you get an initial spike in blood glucose, with that dip in feelings of tiredness also comes the pangs of hunger along with it. As high sugar foods are easily consumable, but yet your body may not actually be getting all of the nutrients it needs. It can leave you feeling constantly hungry as your body will naturally crave nutrients as the sugar isn’t physiologically satisfying.
Crave Sweet Things After Eating
Sweet cravings are a cycle. When you eat something sweet not only with the glucose spike you also get a dopamine hit too. Dopamine is your feel good hormone. So once the hit starts to wear off, and it will literally last a few seconds, you instantly want more and more of that same hit. They say that sugar is addictive, and well this is why.
Fruit Doesn’t Taste As Sweet Anymore
Eating too much sugar will cause your tastebuds to be desensitised to what is actually sweet. It’s one of the key things that you will notice when actively working towards reducing sugar from your diet. Just how delicious and amazing fruit actually does taste.
Can’t Seem To Get A Good Night’s Sleep
As we age, getting a full night’s sleep seems to be the holy grail of feeling good and yet it’s something that so many people struggle with. But as I have come to remember this week as I have been working on reducing my sugar my sleep has been massively improved. Though the exact cause is still unknown, studies have found that people with higher glucose levels are likely to have poorer sleep. Sleeping better in turn can improve mood, focus, hunger levels and also your ability to make positive food and exercise choices throughout your day.
Are you ticking yes to any of these? Or maybe all of them? This is what happens when you eat too much sugar, and so many of us are having way too much. If you are over the age of 35 and are struggling to lose weight, then taking a look at your sugar consumption could help you feel better in more ways than one.
I’m not saying you can’t ever have it again, and it’s certainly not my intention to freak you out or completely demonise sugar. I always work with creating a balanced lifestyle, never having sugar again is just not sustainable, and it’s also a pretty miserable way to live if you ask me. But there are simple ways you can better manage it, reduce your consumption and reap the benefits of feeling and looking better as a result.
Sugar is the thing that will stop me in my tracks when it comes to improving my health, energy and body composition.
I’m feeling a million times better this week. I have more energy, am more focused, getting full night’s sleep without getting up for a wee for the first time in what feels like ages, and this one on it’s own is 100% worth putting in a little effort.
Though as the children’s sweet packet crossed my nose yesterday and I did indeed have the thought of just allowing myself to enjoy one sweet. I was able to stop in my tracks and remind myself how good I am feeling from reducing sugar, and that is a feeling I want to create more of. It’s not about restriction, but far more about making empowered choices for yourself.
Remember this isn’t about all-out quitting, but just working on being mindful about your consumption and looking at actionable ways to be able to reduce it.
So CLICK HERE and go check out the action steps to help you reduce your consumption if you are suffering with any of the above issues.
Love Always
Emma
PS – If you are at the space where you have really had enough and want to look and feel better in your body in the next 28 days CLICK HERE and join Better Body coaching today and get me as your personal coach to guide you through the exact steps to release 6-12lb in a way that is simplified and sustainable.
CLICK HERE to join now and we can get you ready to get started to feeling your best today!
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