We all want to grab a snack whenever we are too lazy to cook or even when we have that persistent craving that just won’t go. Research has shown that three out of five people in the world are consumers of sugary snacks whether intentionally or even when they are not aware. Yes, it is possible to consume it without knowing.
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…This happens especially when a person consumes processed foods with hidden sweeteners. For example, cereals, bread and some of the savory snacks such as crisps and some of the pasties we buy at shops. These snacks are high in calorie content, something which not many people take too seriously. The bitter truth is that sweeteners from all these snacks have far-reaching effects. Some of these outcomes would surprise you, while others may seem rather too obvious and cliché. They include:
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Rapid Weight Gain
Many people especially those in the first world countries are becoming obese. Even those in the third world countries are of no exception. This is caused by the sweet contents in the processed snacks and beverages that people consume. Sweetened drinks like teas, juices, and sodas are most common among people located in urban areas.
One would wonder how these snacks are related to weight gain. The answer is the chemical called fructose. Fructose that is found in sweetened snacks that we consume increases a person’s hunger and builds up desire for food. The build-up for hunger is more than glucose would cause and therefore one gets duped into eating more than the body requires, the result of which is weight gain.
Fructose not only build up a person’s hunger pangs, but it also causes the resistance of the hormone called leptin which regulates a person’s hunger. While at it, as a person’s urge for more sweet snacks increases, so does the calories consumed from the snacks increase.
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Increase in Risk of Heart Disease
Another consequence of eating such snacks is that of diabetes and heart-related diseases which the number one cause of death are worldwide. As mentioned earlier, these snacks have a hand in causing obesity, high blood pressure levels due to weight issues as well as blood sugar levels, all which are a recipe for heart disease.
As for some drinks and vegetables, this could cause artery clogging complications which are commonly known as atherosclerosis. Added sweeteners are most harmful especially when taken in large quantities. People who consume many such snacks are at a greater risk of dying from heart disease. Compared to those who consume in moderate portions. The calories in both cases are what make the difference in risk.
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The Impact on Sleep and Energy
As awkward as this may sound, these snacks greatly affect a person’s sleep patterns and energy levels. As a matter of fact, the more snacks of this kind of person consumes during the day, the more likely the person is to stay alert at night due to lack of sleep or you could have higher chances of having very light sleep and thus wake up feeling exhausted the next day. Likewise, during the day, if a person consumes so much of these snacks, the activity of orexin cells is affected.
Orexin helps a person stay alert and energized. Therefore, when affected by the high glucose intake levels it could make a person feel quite lazy while at work or while at school. To prevent this from happening, it is important to ensure that your blood glucose levels remain steady. Do this by not consuming so much of the refined sucrose that is found in sodas and some desserts, as well as the cereals, sauces and canned fruits or veggies as mentioned earlier. The best solution is to replace the refined sucrose with carbs that are complex in nature such as whole grains which will not only improve the value of your food but also help you get better sleep.
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Acceleration of the Skin Aging Process
No one wants to look aged. If anything, nowadays even old people are trying the best they can so that they do not look aged. However, ageing depends on the food choices that a person makes. Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) are some chemical compounds that are formed as a result of reactions between sucrose and proteins in a person’s body. And these chemical compounds hasten the ageing process in a person’s body.
AGEs cause the destruction of elastin and collagen which help the skin maintain its youthful appearance by maintaining its stretch. Therefore the more a person consumes refined sugars, the more the production of AGEs and hence the faster the aging process. As mentioned earlier, sweet snacks have far-reaching implications. Imagine how disappointing it would be looking older than you actually are just because of sticking to such snacks.
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Other Health Risks
Alongside the aforementioned major health risks, the following are the other health risks:
- Acceleration in cognitive decline: the more a person consumes sucrose from these snacks, the higher the chances of memory fade which in old age is referred to as dementia. Memory fade can occur at all ages be it toddlers or average adults or even the old.
- Poor dental health: It is no news about the effects that such snacks and foods have on a person’s dental health. The sucrose component in these snacks has some acidic effect. This is the reason behind the tooth cavities and hence the frequent dentist visits. Orthodontists, as well as dentists, also give their advice regarding oral health.
They insist that patients undergoing orthodontic treatment should make sure their braces and other alignment equipment are kept clean so as to avoid plaque. Orthodontists also insist that patients undergoing orthodontic treatment should watch their diets and stay away from high sugar consumption.
- Gout development risk: Pain in the joints is what constitutes gout. Gout development is accelerated by an increase in the uric acid levels which are as a result of added sucrose from such snacks and foods.
- Kidney disease risk: Blood vessels in the kidneys are destroyed by constant high blood glucose levels, which as aforementioned, is caused by high consumption of such products. In a nutshell, people should try the best they can to stay away from sweetened snacks. And also be more cautious of every processed food that they consume.
Contact us
To see about any dental topic or indeed any orthodontic facts regarding sugar and oral health, contact Dr. Papandreas and his team today.
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Papandreas Orthodontics
14200 Ridge Rd
North Royalton, OH 44133
United States
tel: 440-582-8585
The (Real) Effects of Sugar in Snacks