Here at ExecLevel Wellness help “type A”, over 40 high level professionals & entrepreneurs conquer stress to lead their best lives. We do that with our holistic From Stressed to Best programs and scientifically designed supplements.
Today, in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, it can feel like everything is out of our control which can lead to fear, stress and overwhelm.
So we thought it would be helpful to talk to you about something totally under your control that can make an impact in your immune system, which is obviously important right now and that is how much added sugars you are consuming.
But before we do that we wanted to check in on you and see how you’re doing.
We’d love for you to say hello in the comments below and let us know where you’re reading from and let us know what is one thing you plan on doing today to bring you joy?
Ok, let’s jump into how sugar can impact your immune system and so much more.
HOW SUGAR IMPACTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Your lifestyle can affect how well your immune system can protect you from germs, viruses, and chronic illness.
There are several ways (and lots of chemistry) that happens to impact your immune system when you overload yourself with added sugars
Nutrient Intake
Many foods that are high in refined sugar are low in nutrients that support a healthy immune system. Nutrient deficiencies can increase your risk for infections. Sugary, processed foods can also deplete nutrients from other foods.
Oxidative Stress
Free radicals are a byproduct of cellular metabolism. Your body’s antioxidant defenses can handle normal amounts. But under certain conditions, your defense system becomes overwhelmed, leading to what’s called oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress plays a major part in nearly every chronic and degenerative illness. Many variables can increase oxidative stress, including too much sugar.
Glycation
Glycation occurs when a sugar molecule sticks to a protein molecule, inhibiting that protein molecule’s ability to perform its physiological function.
This can impact immune responses and contribute to disease. Glycation eventually leads to advanced glycation end products (with the appropriate acronym AGEs).
The body produces AGEs naturally as it processes sugar, and excessively high levels of AGEs can trigger the disease.
Obesity
Research shows that obesity, chronic inflammation, and immune health are interrelated. Being overweight or obese increases inflammation, which makes your body hold onto excess weight and increases your risk for illness.
OTHER RISKS OF CONSUMING TOO MUCH ADDED SUGAR
- It can lead to weight gain. Added sugars load your body up with calories that have virtually NO nutritional benefit. In fact, sugar can rob your body of vital minerals (like calcium and magnesium). NO THANK YOU.
- It can raise your risk of heart disease. Excess sugar can increase inflammation in your body as well as your triglyceride, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. PLUS, it’s linked to atherosclerosis, which can clog your arteries.
- It is linked with type 2 diabetes. Your body goes through hormonal swings when you eat sugar – releasing insulin and other substances to help your body remove it from your bloodstream. If you’re consuming too much sugar, you can potentially develop insulin resistance and diabetes over time.
- Too much sugar can 1) cause acne and 2) speed up the rate your skin ages because it interferes with collagen and elastin, which affect how firm your skin looks.
- It’s linked with certain cancers. Research is still ongoing, but a diet high in sugar can lead to other factors (such as obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation) that are associated with some forms of cancer.
- It speeds the aging process. Studies show it makes your cells age more quickly – and potentially does the same to your body.
- Psychological Stress – Sugar can also impact long-term psychological health. Insulin sometimes over-compensates and pulls your blood sugar down too low, creating mood swings, fatigue, and mental fog that can make your day more stressful.
- And on and on … it can harm your liver, it’s linked with depression, it’s not good for your teeth, can affect your hunger hormones, etc. etc. etc.
HOW MUCH SUGAR IS TOO MUCH?
“Added Sugars” vs. naturally occurring sugars….
In this post we are talking about ADDED SUGARS – as in what gets added to processed foods, NOT the naturally occurring sugars found in whole food like fruit.
World Health Organization & American Heart Association recommend:
- Women should eat no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar a day.
- Men should get no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams) a day.
But get a load of how much sugar we actually eat!
- The average American consumes 17 teaspoons (71.14 grams) every day … or about 57 pounds of sugar a year per person! That is more than 1 pound / week of added sugars.
So there’s obviously a disconnect – some added sugar sources are obvious:
- Coke: 39 grams
- Chai Latte from Starbucks: 42 grams
While others are more sneaky…food manufacturers have cleverly disguised sugar as many different names and it is added to about 80% of the processed foods you find in the grocery store.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?!
Some research suggests added sugars can be as addictive as cocaine…
Food manufacturers have specialists working to make their foods as addictive as possible (it’s true, we’re not conspiracy theorists!) AND they have cleverly hidden sugar under 60 different names so it’s tricky to know what to look out for!
which can make it really hard to stop without resources, Coaching and support of a group going through the journey with you.
In our FREE 5 Day Sugar Detox challenge you will learn:
>> How sugar impacts your hormones, your energy, your mood, and even your waistline
>> Smart snack ideas
>> Sugar detoxing tips
>> The difference between added and natural sugars
>> How to find “hidden” sugar
All while providing daily Coaching emails and our Facebook group for support.
We hope you’ll join us! Just click here and tell us where to send your detox guide & daily Coaching emails: https://discover.execlevelwellness.com/sugar-detox-join-challenge
We are on a MISSION to help over 40 high level professionals and entrepreneurs to conquer stress so that they can live their best life. Download our FREE guide REJUVENATE: 24 Techniques to Beat Stress.
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