When too much of a good thing is a bad thing

Are you constantly feeling weak and fatigued? Or have skin problems and find it difficult to maintain a healthy weight? These signs might be your body’s way of saying you are consuming too much sugar. 

Sugar is not only found in desserts but also in many ready-made meals and drinks. And while we can’t argue with the fact that sugar makes a lot of things taste better, consuming too much of it can endanger our health. Here are the most common physical signs of excessive sugar consumption and tips on how you can cut back or avoid it.




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Lack of energy and overly fatigued

One obvious sign that you’re consuming too much sugar is feeling constantly tired and lacking in energy. Foods that are particularly high in sugar give you energy—but only temporarily. To avoid crashes throughout the day, stay away from processed foods, sodas and sweets.




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Weight gain

This sign shouldn’t be all that surprising either. Sugar has no fiber or protein, which is why you don’t get full and still want more. This is why you end up consuming a ton of calories when eating sweetened foods. Sugar also stimulates the release of insulin, so the more we eat, the more we tell our body to make insulin. Excessive sugar consumption can cause insulin resistance over a certain period of time, and that is the driving factor that leads to type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and prediabetes.




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Nonstop sugar cravings

Do you often crave something sweet? If the answer is yes, it could be a sign of sugar addiction. The more sugar you eat, the more you want it. This chain reaction leads to constantly reaching for something sweet, which can cause weight gain and eventually obesity. Start by cutting sweets off your grocery lists, and don’t keep sugary treats in the house. Try to satisfy your sweet tooth with natural sources of sugar like fruits.




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Skin problems

People who eat too much sugar are more prone to rosacea, acne, eczema, and excessively oily skin. Many claim that by reducing sugar levels, their skin problems subsided significantly. When dining out, for example, reserve your dessert indulgences for special occasions (once a month). And if your coworkers are constantly bringing sweets to the office, resist the temptation to say yes every time. Your skin will thank you.




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Mental Confusion

Another symptom that occurs—especially right after a meal—is brain fog from the spike in blood sugar. Sweetened foods cause blood sugar to skyrocket far too quickly and then drop down again just as quickly. It’s not good for your mental capacities and can make you feel temporarily frazzled or confused.




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Heightened sugar tolerance

Too much sugar bombards the taste buds and increases your tolerance to sugar. That’s why you need a steadily increasing amount of sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s not easy to restore normal sugar tolerance. As soon as you reduce your sugar consumption, the tolerance threshold is reduced over time and you can become satisfied with smaller doses again. Start cutting back now, before you go too far.




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Constantly chilled and feverish

Another sign that your sugar intake has reached the limit is if you are constantly cold and often have a fever. Excessive sugar consumption weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to fever, flu, and chronic illness.




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What else can you do to avoid sugar?

Above all, avoid sugary soft drinks and ready-made meals. Try to cook fresh food from scratch as much as possible, and don’t skimp on your vegetables. If you want to snack between meals, grab fresh fruit or a handful of nuts. Also, don’t be fooled by processed fruit juices. They contain tons of sugar and lack the fiber and nutrients found in whole fruits.

Hungry for more? Here are the 10 most effective breakfasts for weight loss.




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