An American woman decided to test herself by taking 200 grams of sugar from healthy foods every day for 60 consecutive days. How much is 200 grams of sugar? About 6 cans of cola and one and a half boxes of ice cream.
But she didn't eat these, but took them from fruits, honey and other sugars that were considered "healthy". I thought the problem would not be too big, after all, these sugars didn't look so "harmful".
As a result, within a few weeks, she was diagnosed with fatty liver. Her mood also became particularly unstable, sometimes manic, sometimes anxious, and she couldn't even concentrate.
What's more unexpected is that she found that she gradually became dependent on sugar. She would only feel good after eating sugar, but this effect lasted less than an hour.
This experiment makes people rethink, even the so-called "looking healthy" sugar, what does it mean to the body?
Dangerous association between sweets and cancer
Sweets are like an invisible magic that makes people unable to stop. However, if you eat too much of these sweets, the hidden risks are not just as easy as getting fat and getting cavities, but may even secretly cause certain conditions in your body to "worsen".
The data given by the study hits the key point: drinking 100 ml more sugary drinks a day will increase the risk of all-cause cancer by 18%, and the probability of breast cancer in women can even rise to 22%! If you drink more a day, the risk will only double. Does this sound scary?
Scientists also say that cancer cells have a "special relationship" with sugar. To put it bluntly, sugar is one of the energy sources of cancer cells. High sugar intake is equivalent to "adding food" to the tumor.
Moreover, sugar can accelerate chronic inflammation in the body, and chronic inflammation happens to be the breeding ground for many cancers. The more critical thing is that modern people's diet is full of various "invisible sugars", and if you don't pay attention, you will exceed the amount.
There are also those less obvious hazards. For example, high sugar intake will cause protein and fat to "glycate" quickly, resulting in loose skin, more wrinkles, and faster aging. The acidic environment in the body changes, and teeth are prone to problems. The cardiovascular system may also be unlucky, such as arteriosclerosis and vascular disease, and all the risks are piled on the body.
In seemingly invisible places, sugar quietly lays a net, making it difficult to guard against. What's more terrifying is that there may be far more behind the crisis.
The real "culprit" of diabetes
Is diabetes really caused by eating too much sweets? Many people think so, but in fact the relationship is not so direct.
The real "black hand" behind the scenes is often hidden in the diet that you think is quite normal, and it is hidden so deeply - like those things called "invisible sugar".
The staple foods such as bread and potatoes that we often eat on ordinary days do not feel sweet when we eat them, but they are the hardest hit areas of "invisible sugar". Because starch is actually a polysaccharide, which is quickly decomposed in the body and directly becomes glucose.
If you eat more, your blood sugar will soar, so insulin will naturally have to work hard to maintain balance. Over time, insulin may become "tired" and cause problems. Rice and white flour have unknowingly laid the root of diabetes.
Another thing is carbohydrates, which are indispensable for three meals a day. Many people think that as long as they don't touch sweets, it's okay to eat more carbon water. In fact, it's not true. Excessive intake of carbon water will still affect the stability of blood sugar, and the pressure on the pancreas will be more and more. Those who sit for a long time and do not move much are more likely to be shot.
There are also processed foods such as ham, sausages, and potato chips. Although they are mainly salty, sugar is always at the top of the ingredient list. In order to make these foods "delicious and addictive", manufacturers often add various sweeteners, preservatives, and even artificial flavors.
You think a bag of potato chips will give you a "salty and fragrant" taste, but you don't know that the sugar content is actually not low. Similarly, in seasoning sauces and salad dressings, the sugar content in them is rising.
What is even more surprising is that the above-mentioned things that seem to have nothing to do with sugar are not the most hidden enemies. When it comes to blood sugar fluctuations, people usually focus on "sweetness", but salt can also do bad things secretly.
Studies have shown that when you eat more salt, the level of "ghrelin" in the human body will increase. This thing will inhibit the effect of insulin, reduce the ability to lower blood sugar, and make you eat more with a big appetite, and finally turn into fat, dragging your body downhill together.
However, what is more terrifying is the double threat, which may kill people at any time!
The double threat of diabetes and cancer
The terrible degree of diabetes is far more than the blood sugar problem caused by the "strike" of insulin. It has an inseparable relationship with cancer. Studies have shown that the risk of diabetic patients suffering from malignant tumors of the digestive system is much higher than that of the general population.
Because in the diabetic state, the human body maintains high blood sugar and high insulin levels for a long time. This "metabolic environment" is exactly the soil that cancer cells like. Not to mention that diabetes can also cause chronic inflammation, which is an excellent breeding ground for cancer, and the growth rate of cancer may be "accelerated".
And controlling blood sugar is the key to reducing risks! At the very least, start with dietary adjustments. Eat less processed foods and less sugary drinks. Replace staple foods with whole grains, eat more green leafy vegetables and fiber-containing foods to reduce the burden on the pancreas.
Exercise is also a powerful "medicine". Don't sit all the time. Arrange 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week, such as brisk walking or jogging, which can not only help the body consume excess blood sugar, but also keep the body's metabolic level "on the same level".
Of course, monitoring blood sugar is necessary. Get a portable blood sugar meter and record it every day to prevent blood sugar from fluctuating. In fact, these methods can also be used by ordinary people. Not only diabetic patients, but also the risk of cancer can be quietly reduced if they develop good habits.
Of course, sugar is not as terrible as we say. Its moderate intake is very helpful to our mood.
The happiness of moderate intake
Sugar is not all bad. Moderate intake can bring a lot of happiness to our lives. After all, who can resist the pleasure of eating a small piece of chocolate and drinking a sip of tea with a little sweetness?
After sugar enters the human body, it can be quickly converted into energy, making people instantly full of energy. Especially when you are tired at work, a moderate amount of desserts can really make people feel more relaxed, and even relieve some negative emotions. However, what is considered "moderate" is a science, and many people often don't understand this.
If you really want to take in sugar, you have to choose healthy sugars, such as sucrose and maltose. Compared with high fructose corn syrup containing a lot of fructose, the metabolic mechanism of these sugars is relatively mild, and the burden on the body is also less.
Of course, it is not enough to just choose the right kind of sugar, you have to be careful when eating it, such as using fruit instead of cake, and using homemade jam instead of those sweet salad dressings in the store.
Only by controlling the total amount can you enjoy sweetness without causing trouble to your body.
Re-examining sugar intake
This experiment reminds us that seemingly healthy sugar can still hurt the body. 200 grams of sugar, not more, not less, can cause fatty liver, emotional disorder, lack of concentration, and sugar dependence in just a few weeks.
The key is that the calorie intake is not much higher than usual. This shows that it is useless to just stare at the calorie table, and sugar itself can "attack" the body.
Whether it is fruit, honey, drinks, or sauces, you have to take it easy and control it when necessary. Don't let the temporary sweetness ruin your long-term health.
