Everyone has a weakness when it comes down to snacks and food. Some people have an obsession with cheese and some are in love with carbs. Well I love SUGAR. Chocolate and ice cream to be exact! If you have read my story you will know that at one point in my life, I had to cut back and really watch my sugar intake because I was borderline diabetic.

Let’s vibe about some terms and facts that can lead to some very damaging health issues such as diabetes.

 Sugar:

Sweet carbohydrates (as glucose or sucrose) material that consists essentially of sucrose obtained from sugarcane or sugar beets, is typically colorless or white when pure, and is commonly used to sweeten foods and beverages.

Artificial Sweeteners:

a non-caloric substitute for sugar that is often intensely more sweet, such as aspartame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, alitame, and sucrose. The purpose for using an artificial sweetener is generally to replace sugar and reduce calories. ie, splenda, SweetnLow, Equal.

Do you know the amount of sugar an adult should consume in one day? According to World Health Organization and Health Line, it is recommended that adult women should intake about 25 grams of sugar on a daily basis and adult men should only take 37.5 grams daily. That is about 6-9 teaspoons a day.

Sugar intake can be very hard to monitor considering almost everything you will eat will contain glucose or sugar. Fruit is very healthy, however too much fruit can contain a lot of grams which can put you over the recommended daily sugar consumption.

 

 

It’s important to know your Blood Glycerole levels simply by consulting with your doctor and obtaining your blood test.

High blood sugar levels can cause dehydration, frequent urination, cavities,  blurry vision,  fatigue, and dry/itchy skin. In worst cases, if the symptoms prolong and are ignored, it can result to Diabetes.

                        Diabetes:

A group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood (high blood glucose).
Most common types:

Type 2 diabetes:
A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose).

Type 1 diabetes:
A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

Ways to monitor your sugar intake:

 

Please do not feel as if you need to go cold turkey by cutting out sugar completely. I know I will not! It’s okay to enjoy and indulge in delicious desserts and sweet treats occasionally! However, it is also important to be sure you are monitoring your levels so that you are not jeopardizing your health.

            Control your insulin sensitivity:

• Check food labels/gram amounts
• Exercise
• Drink plenty of water
• Rest/sleep
• Do a sugar detox ( eat natural foods)
• Control your stress
• Control your cravings
• Bake your own sweets
  • DIY foods ( ie; dressings, ice cream, yogurt, sauces)
• Avoid processed foods ( ie; cereal, canned, prepackaged goods)
• Try to steer clear from Artificial Sweeteners
  • Diet drinks/juice contain artificial sweetener

 

   Sources:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugar

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/artificial-sweetener

https://nomnomkids.co.uk/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-sugar-per-day

https://www.eatthis.com/stop-eating-sugar/

 

More info About Diabetes:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes