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According to a report from the American Heart Association (AHA), the average American consumes approximately 22 teaspoons of added sugar each day. The biggest source of sugar comes from soft drinks, followed by candy, cakes, cookies and other commercially-baked goods.
You probably know that a diet high in added sugar is associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation and high blood pressure but did you know that sugar fuels cancer cells, lowers immune function and contributes to premature aging and wrinkling as well?
Cancer: Although it is unclear whether sugar causes healthy cells to become cancerous, research shows that once a cell becomes cancerous, it feeds on sugar. Insulin levels soar when excessive amounts of sugar are ingested.
Dr. Christine Horner, author of "Waking the Warrior Goddess," reports that high insulin levels are one of the biggest risks factors and promoters of cancer. "Women with high insulin levels have a 283 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer," Horner said.
Immune function: Another lesser known fact about sugar is that it can lower your resistance. In "Get the Sugar Out," Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, classifies sugar as an immunosuppressant that reduces the germ-killing ability of white blood cells for up to five hours after ingestion. and it reduces the effectiveness of antibodies.
Premature wrinkling and aging: According to Dr. Fredric Brandt, a New York-based dermatologist, sugar attaches to protein and forms harmful molecules called Advanced Glycation End Products (AGES) when it enters your bloodstream. AGES damage the collagen and elastin in the skin causing it to lose elasticity and become dull in appearance.
The AHA recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar for most women, no more than 9 for most men. The average soft drink has about 8 teaspoons of added sugar. "The human body needs only about two teaspoons of sugar in the bloodstream at any one time." And we can meet our sugar requirements sufficiently from a balanced diet that includes complex carbohydrates, protein and fat without additional sugars derived from fruit, Gittleman said.
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Email: Chesna@FitEsteem.com
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