November is National Diabetes Month. You should prevent excessive sugar intake to help prevent or manage diabetes. Many health experts argue that sugar is the bane of the modern diet. While sugar may taste good, it is hard on the health. It can harm the metabolism and contribute to the development of a number of diseases.
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Sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup and sucrose, contain a lot of calories but no essential nutrients. This is why added sugars are referred to as empty calories. Added sugars have no vitamins, minerals, proteins, or essential fats. Eating foods that are high in added sugar can contribute to nutrient deficiencies.
Sugar is also the enemy of the teeth as it can enhance the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria that bind together to become plaque use sugar as a main source of energy. With sugar present in the mouth, the bacteria multiply faster resulting in plaque build-up. While saliva can normally wash residue away, plaque sticks to the teeth.
Consuming too much sugar may also result in insulin resistance, which is the leading cause of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The hormone insulin allows glucose or blood sugar to enter the cells and instruct the cells to burn glucose instead of fat. The presence of high levels of glucose in the blood has harmful effects including blindness, one of the complications of diabetes.
Having excessive sugar in the bloodstream results in metabolic dysfunction. Insulin will cease to work as it should, leading to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the leading cause of many diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
If you begin to notice the formation of plaque on your teeth, consult an office of family dentistry in Utah.