Are Sugar Cravings Adding To Your Weight?
Do you have an uncontrollable sweet tooth? Or have you suddenly been having strong cravings for sugar? Sugar cravings are the result of a lifestyle that includes a lot of sugar intake. However, in some cases it can also mean that your body is trying to tell you something.
Either way, sugar cravings can hinder your weight loss plans and can, actually lead to weight gain and several related health issues.
Why does sugar lead to weight gain?
Sugar is a source of empty calories. This means that it does not contain any nutrients. However, it keeps you satiated and prevents you from eating foods that are actually healthy for you. For instance, if you start your day with a muffin, you feel full but you missed the opportunity to eat something more nutrient dense such as eggs.
While sugar does make you feel satisfied for the moment, it can give you hunger pangs in less than an hour of consuming it. The reason for this is that when you consume sugar, there is a sudden spike in the blood sugar. This can lead to insulin lows and highs that often leave you feeling hungry and moody.
The worst part is that excessive sugar is converted into fat by the liver and stored in the body. Eventually excessive sugar can lead to issues like type 2 diabetes.
Not all sugars are the same?
This is very important to understand the relationship between body weight and sugar. Now, a fruit such as apple does contain sugar too. To be precise, apple contains about 18 grams of sugar. However, it also has fiber, which helps slow down the absorption of sugar by the body. As a result, there is no insulin spike in the body.
On the other hand, a cookie or candy that has the same amount of sugar will led to a sugar rush immediately and trigger insulin response. According to the World Health Organization about 25 grams of sugar per day is recommended as added sugars. This means besides the sugar that is already in your food.
It is also important to remember that sugar is not found only in sweet food but can also be found in processed salty foods. Some foods that contain excessive sugar are:
- Pasta sauces, ketchups and condiments
- Bread, including whole wheat
- Canned foods
- Snack bars
- Salad Dressing
- Energy drinks.
