BEAUTY
THE BITTERSWEET OF SUGAR WRITTEN BY JULIE BURTON
E
veryone knows a candy bar or soda is not “good” for you. They’re what some call “empty calories”—food or beverages that do not contain any nutritional value because they’re full of sugar. It’s fair to say sugar has a bad rap. But the truth is sugar comes in all kinds of forms, and some are even healthy for you. Dr. Steven Flanery of Flanery Chiropractic Clinic breaks down the good and bad of sugar and how you can make better choices when it comes to added sugar in your diet.
What is sugar?
Sugar is just a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates, along with fat and
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protein, are macronutrients that provide the body with energy. Sugar can be broken into two basic categories: simple and compound. Dr. Flanery explains, “You’ll find simple sugars in food in its natural form. They’re always best for you. Foods such as whole fruit and honey. Compound sugars are things like table sugar, soda, and processed foods. These refined sugars undergo a massive processing endeavor that includes bleaching. It’s this type of processing that spikes your blood sugar levels in unhealthy ways.”
Exactly how “bad” is compound sugars?
“There are some supportive stud-
ies that show compound sugars are as addictive as alcohol and drugs. Consuming sugar and carbs are essentially a dopamine hit,” Dr. Flanery says. “Our blood sugar spikes and then we build a tolerance to it.” Side effects of too much sugar in your diet can be things as simple as tooth decay, or more serious effects like insulin (hormone) resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, pancreatic disease, and circulating inflammation. Dr. Flanery explains, “Inflammation in your gut is like a sunburn on your skin. If you continue to get repeated sunburns on your skin, it blisters and destroys your skin.
