Most people know that sugar is not good for them, but the risk is less known.
Sugar is just as much of a silent killer as salt. Excess fructose
consumption was linked to leptin resistance, a hormone that tells you
when you've had enough food. It all happens without symptoms or
warning bells.
When glucose is present in the body, the pancreas releases insulin,
causing the cells of the body to absorb sugar from the bloodstream.
Through this absorption, the molecule tryptophan, the sleep-inducing
culprit of Thanksgiving dinner, is converted into serotonin,
the “happiness molecule.” It’s only in severe cases when the bloodstream is completely overloaded with glucose that insulin works
too quickly and results in a sugar low, [
hypoglycemia]. Quite the opposite of a
sugar high, hypoglycemia will leave
you feeling sad, fatigued and in some cases depressed.
Too many calories from any source will be stored as fat if not
burned, but the lack of other nutrients in sugar makes it much easier to
eat gobs of it with no physical effects to warn of the danger that
lurks. That's why you can have an entire king-size bag of licorice at
the movies and come out ready to go for dinner. Foods rich in fiber, fat
and protein all have been associated with increased fullness
Simple sugars coming from fruit are less concerning given their high amounts of disease-fighting compounds and fiber. Just a thought.