Is there anything good we can say about sugar, anything at all?
Well, with regards to its impact on our physical and mental health,
actually, no there isn't.
There are different types of sugar, and some, like Fructose, are naturally
occurring in fruit and berries etc.
However, although we will look at Fructose in this blog post, we are going
to be focusing primarily on the man made poisons such as sucrose and high
fructose corn syrup etc.
Lets take each sugar type in turn and see what's really going on.
Glucose:
Also known as dextrose or blood sugar, glucose is a simple sugar that is
the primary source of energy for living organisms.
In humans, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream after digestion of
carbohydrates from food, and it is transported to cells throughout the body
where it is used as a source of energy.
Glucose is also stored in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen,
which can be converted back into glucose when energy is needed.
Glucose is commonly found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables,
grains, and sweeteners like honey.
Glucose is commonly referred to as "blood sugar" because it circulates in
the bloodstream to fuel cellular activities.
Fructose:
Fructose is commonly known as "fruit sugar" because it is abundant in many
fruits. It has the same chemical formula as glucose but a different structure.
It is found naturally in fruits, honey, and some vegetables.
Fructose is commonly used as a sweetener in the food industry and is a
component of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is widely used in
processed foods and beverages.
Sucrose:
Sucrose, commonly known as table sugar, is a carbohydrate composed of
glucose and fructose molecules.
When consumed, the body breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose,
which are then used by cells for energy production.
It is commonly extracted from sugar cane or sugar beet and is widely used
as a sweetener in cooking and baking.
It is most notably found in:
Sugar Cane: Sucrose is extracted from sugar cane plants. Sugar cane is a tall,
perennial grass primarily grown in tropical and subtropical regions.
Sugar Beet: Sucrose is also extracted from sugar beet plants. Sugar beets are
root vegetables grown primarily in temperate climates.
Sucrose is also added to many processed and prepared foods as a sweetener,
contributing to its widespread presence in the modern diet.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS):
High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener made from corn starch. It is
produced by enzymatically converting some of the glucose in corn syrup into
fructose to increase its sweetness.
HFCS is commonly used as a sweetening agent in processed foods and
beverages because it is cheaper to produce than sucrose (table sugar) and has
a similar sweetness profile.
The widespread use of HFCS in the food industry has been a topic of controversy
and debate due to concerns about its potential health effects.
What's the problem with sugar?
To answer this question correctly, first, we must look at what happens to our
bodies when we consume sugar.
When we consume sugars, these are then converted to glucose in the liver through
a process called gluconeogenesis, after which, the glucose is released into the
bloodstream..
This is a vital metabolic pathway that helps maintain blood glucose levels within a
normal range.
The liver can store excess sugar for later use, especially when the body is required
to expend larger amounts of energy due to a sudden burst of activity, such as a
sprint, or even a longer run, such as a marathon.
However, it can only store so much!!
Inside our bodies, we also have something called Mitochondria.
These are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of our cells because they generate
most of the cell's supply of energy.
Mitochondria play a crucial role in cellular respiration, the process by which cells break
down organic molecules, such as glucose, to produce energy.
Under normal circumstances, this system works extremely effectively, and the sugar
consumed is safely broken down and converted.
However, what happens when we constantly, chronically consume too much sugar?
Nothing good ever comes from eating too much sugar, in fact, over time, this behaviour
leads to many significant, negative effects on your health & wellbeing!
There are only three places within the body sugar can be deposited once it enters the
bloodstream: The Liver, The Muscles, Fat Cells.
This process is overseen by the pancreas, which releases insulin into the bloodstream
to synthesise and distribute the sugar.
Initially, the bodies first response to a glucose intake, is energy. Glucose serves as a vital
source of energy for muscle cells during exercise, providing the necessary fuel for muscle
contractions and supporting physical activity.
The problems begin when we have taken in too much sugar, and our whole system is
flooded and saturated with it.
Believe it or not, the body should rarely encounter sugar. What we get from eating fruit
and starchy foods is more than enough, even for very active people.
The main problem with sugar is how addictive it actually is. It is estimated that sugar is
at least 10 times more addictive than cocaine!!
When we eat sugar, our bodies release our pleasure hormone Dopamine. This provides
a huge "high" and we obviously feel great: akin to a big espresso hit.
The problem then is, although the "high" is a high (pardon the pun), all highs must be
accompanied by the inevitable "low".
The "high" is very short-lived, whereas the "low" has a much higher longevity and seems
much more prolonged and powerful than the earlier "high".
This is EXCATLY how sugar addiction is born. Like cocaine, we are constantly thinking
about, and looking for, our next "high"!!
What happens next?
When we are constantly overloaded with blood sugar, two significant things occur
within the body:
Number 1:
Mitochondria simply breakdown and shutdown due to overload. Excessive blood
sugar can lead to increased mitochondrial stress and dysfunction, mainly due to
oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress also causes chronic inflammation, which can disrupt mitochondrial
function and contribute to mitochondrial breakdown.
Overall, the breakdown of mitochondria due to excessive blood sugar levels contributes to
cellular dysfunction and is associated with various metabolic disorders, including diabetes
and cardiovascular diseases.
Number 2:
Constantly high levels of sugar intake can put a strain on the pancreas, leading to fatigue and
decreased efficiency in insulin production.
This can contribute to insulin resistance and may eventually lead to the development of type 2
diabetes, where the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the body's demands.
Overall, consuming too much sugar can have negative effects on the pancreas, including
increased insulin production, pancreatic fatigue, beta cell dysfunction, inflammation, and
potentially an increased risk of pancreatic diseases and cancers.
Then What?
Having chronic high blood sugar is right up there with one of the worst things you can do to
your body.
Basically, there are 4 main culprits which cause damage, illness and disease within the body:
Chronic Stress
Insulin Resistance
Oxidative Stress
Chronic Inflammation
Subjecting your body to constant over saturation of sugar, contributes, promotes and supports
all of the above.
Along with trans fats (see relative blog post), sugar, especially the man made varieties, is
responsible for untold levels of chronic health problems, over medicated populations and of course
many more serious and deadly diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases and strokes.
Sugar inflames the body, it sets it on fire and damages every tangible aspect of our health and
wellbeing.
This then becomes a truly vicious circle. As inflammation increases, our bodies breakdown and we
become ill. We suffer from tiredness, lethargy and less energy.
To replace this lost energy, we then eat more of the very same foods which are literally killing us:
SUGAR!!
Due to the constant, chronic spiking of our blood sugar levels, the liver and muscles are overloaded
and overflowing with glucose. This then leaves only one option and one resting place for the
remaining sugar in your blood: Fat Cells!
Excess sugar consumption will always lead to weight gain, which in turn, promotes fat storage.
Of course, the Liver itself cannot escape the carnage, and over time, one of your most important
organs will succumb to fatty liver disease.
There are many other health problems heavily linked, (backed by proven research),
to excess, chronic sugar consumption:
- Migraines
- Gout (due to inflammation)
- Kidney Stones
- Accelerated Ageing
- Sleep Disorders
- Increased risk of depression and anxiety
As we know, high blood sugar causes inflammation within the body: the brain does not escape
this onslaught!
There are presently two brain disorders/diseases which literally terrify people to their very core
at the thought of contracting.
Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease: Type 3 Diabetes?
Both diseases are heavily affiliated with heavy metal exposure & chronic high blood sugar.
Heavy metal exposure has already been covered in a previous blog post, so lets concentrate on
blood sugar and look at its involvement with regards to brain disorders and illness.
Having already established that high blood sugar causes inflammation, and that includes the brain,
lets take a closer look at what actually happens.
Alzheimer's is now very often referred to as Type 3 Diabetes!!
The term "Type 3 diabetes" has been proposed as a way to describe Alzheimer's disease due to
growing evidence suggesting a link between insulin resistance in the brain and the development
of Alzheimer's pathology.
Research has shown that insulin resistance, a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes, also occurs in the brain
of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
Insulin is important for neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation, and insulin
resistance in the brain can impair these functions.
Insulin plays a role in the clearance of beta-amyloid, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of
individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
Insulin resistance in the brain may impair the clearance of beta-amyloid, leading to its accumulation
and contributing to Alzheimer's pathology.
Insulin resistance can lead to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, which are also
features of Alzheimer's disease. These processes can further contribute to neuronal damage and
cognitive impairment.
Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease share several risk factors, including obesity, physical inactivity,
and unhealthy diet. These risk factors can contribute to insulin resistance and chronic inflammation,
which are implicated in both conditions.
There is also emerging evidence suggesting that there might be some association between diabetes
and Parkinson's disease.
Several studies have shown that individuals with type 2 diabetes have a slightly higher risk of developing
Parkinson's disease compared to those without diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, which can lead to poor glucose metabolism and
increased oxidative stress.
Both type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease involve chronic inflammation.
Inflammation is believed to play a role in the development of both conditions, and shared inflammatory
pathways may contribute to their association.
Diabetes is associated with vascular complications: small and larger blood vessels in the brain.
Vascular dysfunction may contribute to degeneration in Parkinson's disease by impairing blood flow and
nutrient delivery to the brain.
Summary!
There is no disputing that chronic high blood sugar levels cause damage to the body and brain.
Insulin Resistance & Chronic Inflammation are the root causes of many long term, debilitating
illnesses and diseases, not to mention the sheer volume of fatal strokes and heart attacks involved.
The problem is clear and irrefutable!
The Root Cause is clear and undeniable!
The solution is obvious yet simple and easy to achieve!
Remove Sucrose and High Fructose Corn Syrup from your diet completely, or as best you can achieve.
It is a complete fallacy and blatant lies to even remotely suggest these two man made sugars can be
part of a healthy, balanced diet!
They are legally sellable poisons and toxins at best!
Let your sugar intake be from natural sources, such as fruit and vegetables, then worry not.
Your sugar consumption will then be as nature intended: from natural sources and free from bleaching,
whitening, additives, toxins, chemicals and other dubious additives.
