What Happens in Your Body When You Eat Too Much Sugar

Everybody knows that too much sugar is bad for you, and that we need to stay away from the best things in life like chocolate, candy and soda. Sugar is delicious – it adds a wonderful sweetness to anything that it is added to and automatically makes it taste better. Unfortunately, when it comes to sugar it can definitely be too much of a good thing. Sugar is known for being addicting, unhealthy and it contributes to weight gain and obesity. A little sugar here and there in moderation is not bad for you, but it’s important to monitor your intake of natural sugar and added sugar. What happens in your body when you eat too much sugar? Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect…

• Weight Gain

Research has proven that the consumption of sugary foods and drinks is linked to gaining weight. Your body needs glucose to survive, but then you consume more than you need it gets converted into fatty acid that is stored for future use in places like your hips, thighs, arms and stomach. 

• Skin Problems

Sugary foods can increase oil production and inflammation, which can lead to skin problems and acne. Studies also show that consuming a lot of refined carbs and sugar can lead to the production of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), which play a key role in skin aging. 

• Sugar Cravings

When you consume a lot of sugar your brain will release dopamine, which is a “feel-good” chemical that is typically released when you experience a positive emotion or interaction. When you feel good, similar to drug addicts, you’ll want to continue getting your fix so you can continue to experience those same feelings. If you were to binge eat sugary snacks and foods, you’re even more likely to experience cravings than if you indulged in sweet treats every now and then. 

• Depression & Anxiety

Eating too much sugar can actually lead to increased feelings of depression and anxiety. A diet that heavily relies on starchy and sugary foods will cause inflammation in your body, which can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as other impacts on your mental health. 

• Increased Risk of Cancer

Studies show that eating too much sugar can increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including esophageal cancer and cancer of the small intestine. This is linked to the fact that eating too much sugar causes obesity and inflammation, which also increases the risk of cancer. 

• Heart Disease

A diet that is rich in sugar can significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, especially if you regularly consume sugary beverages like soda. If you pair this with the increased risk for weight gain and diabetes, you can see how a high-sugar diet will negatively impact your heart health and well-being. 

• Increased Risk for Diabetes

Whenever you eat anything that has glucose in it your body releases insulin so it can process the glucose into energy. When you consume too much sugar at once, there’s a large release of insulin, and if this happens to often you can develop hypoglycemia, or insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, your body won’t be able to absorb glucose fast enough and it’ll build up in your bloodstream and liver, which can lead to pre-diabetes and eventually diabetes. 

• Dental Problems

Sugar interacts with bacteria and produces acid that can dissolve and damage the enamel of your teeth, which can cause your teeth to decay and rot. If you don’t watch what you eat, and regularly visit your dentist for check-ups and cleanings you could end up with a mouth full of decay and cavities. 

A diet that is rich in sugar will leave you feeling fatigued, irritable and can cause mood swings and headaches. If you need a sugar detox, especially after a holiday, celebration or birthday, you’ll need a couple of days to recover from your cheat day. The best way to recover is to drink a lot of water so you can flush out your system and avoid feeling dehydrated. If you’re thinking about fasting to balance out the extra calories that you’ve consumed – don’t! It’s better to eat smaller meals with high quality foods instead – opt for anti-inflammatory foods like salmon, avocado, green tea, broccoli, etc. Even though you won’t feel like it, the best thing you can do after a sugar binge is to do some type of exercise to help you burn through the extra glycogen and help you stabilize your blood sugar. For more information on how to stay healthy, lose weight and explore weight loss supplements that can help you stay on track even after an indulgent cheat day – contact us!