The Tribune

By Dr Monique Thompson

AFTER spending two weeks looking at what sugar actually is, and what our bodies to do it once we’ve ingested it, it is finally time to wake up and smell the cavities.

There are so many noteworthy physical, behavioural, mental and emotional effects to discuss. We have to jump right into why individuals make such a big fuss about eating too much sugar.

Diabetes

I think when the masses in our country hear about problems caused by sugar, the immediate thought is “Sugar” or type II diabetes mellitus. High sugar intake, which we know all too well here in the Bahamas, leads to the development of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes.

Heart disease

You may recall when I went on and on and on about obesity I said that one of the great contributors to our obesity epidemic here in The Bahamas was that we eat foods that are “calorically dense and nutritionally depleted.”

Added sugar epitomises this. Sugar only has calories; no protein, no fibre, no nutritional content. As a result, high glucose and fructose consumption have been implicated in the development of obesity, insulin resistance, high LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins, also called “bad cholesterol”), triglycerides, as well as high blood pressure. These conditions in and of themselves are problematic, and as you can imagine, when they co-exist as they often do, the effects are even more detrimental to one’s health. High “bad” cholesterol, triglycerides, and high blood pressure result in heart diseases such as chest pain, heart attacks and strokes.

Sugar and

our children

In a nutshell, high sugar consumption really takes a toll on our youth. It is a suspect in the sharp rise of childhood obesity (and hopefully after the first two articles we understand why that is). From a nutritional standpoint, starting children on sugar at a young age causes them to prefer sweetened items, which puts them on a bad path especially given the addictive nature of sugar. Sugar also leads to the development of food allergies, worsens eczema, and causes acne to persist. Numerous studies from varying sources have found that high sugar intake negatively impacts children’s academic performance in school by decreasing learning capacity, contributing to the development of learning disorders, as well as causing hyperactivity, anxiety, the inability to concentrate as and crankiness. It worsens the symptoms of children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and can lead to juvenile delinquency and cause this population to display antisocial behaviour.

Sugar makes you old

And who wants that, right? I’ve spent a lot of time in aesthetic and anti-aging medicine, developing programmes, administering therapies, and helping patients improve their physical appearance. Here is some free anti-aging advice – a key to looking younger longer is eating less sugar. Sugar is one of the most inflammatory food products out there, and inflammation leads to increased cellular aging and death. Sugar increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells and tissues. The more sugar you eat, the more tissue elasticity and function you lose, which for your skin, means dreaded wrinkles.

Sugar gets

you hooked

In Part I of this topic, I made the comment, “Some people consider sugar a poison, the devil, or legalised cocaine.” I wasn’t kidding. Some people do call sugar “legal cocaine” because of how it affects the neurochemistry of the brain. It is an addictive substance. Who would’ve thought? Sugar raises the level of the neurotransmitters (NT) dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Without diving way too deep into the chemistry of addiction, know that addictive drugs access the brain’s reward system by activating dopamine receptors; serotonin is a “feel good” NT that affects mood and social behaviour; and increased norepinephrine prepares the body to fight or run from danger, which is a desirable, excitatory state in the world of drug use. Sugar can also have similar effects as alcohol, and can lead to alcoholism.

Hormonal stuff

To say that our adrenal glands are super important would be to say the least. Our adrenal glands produce sex hormones and hormones that help the body control blood sugar, burn protein and fat, react to stressors like a major illness or injury, and regulate blood pressure. I know at this point you are probably saying, “Please! Please not the hormones!”

Unfortunately, I have to be the bearer of bad news, but knowledge is power. High sugar consumption does decrease adrenal gland functioning. It can cause fatigue, moodiness, nervousness, and depression while causing a decrease in emotional stability. The bottom-line is that it makes us feel crappy in the long run. Women, if you are already afflicted with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), know that although you may crave it, sugar aggravates these symptoms. And men, if you have a healthy appetite for sex, you may want to lay off the sweet crystals too. Sugar can decrease testosterone production while increasing estradiol (a potent oestrogen) in men. Overall, it interferes with sex hormone production and can ruin the sex life of both men and women. I just wanted to plug in here that we all have different motivating factors, but this section here is enough motivation for me. Some 900 plus words later and the sugar problems still aren’t done.

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of Cornerstone Healing Institute, an integrative family medicine clinic that focuses on educating patients on healthier lifestyles, preventing and treating chronic disease. Contact 356-0083 or visit www.chibahamas.com for more information.