In 1822, the average American consumed about 45 grams of sugar every five days, which is
the amount that's found in just one modern-day soft drink. Today, that number has climbed all the way to 765 grams every five days
We're now consuming the amount of sugar in seven hours that our forefathers consumed in
a span of five days. We've turned this formerly sweet splurge into a dietary staple
But what if we were to take about 20 teaspoon-sized steps back
We asked the experts what would happen to our bodies and our minds if we cut back on
the spoonful of sugar. Glow like Beyonce Glycation is the effect of sugar molecules on your body's cells
And the same cells that make you look younger, plumper, and glowy are the ones that are most susceptible
According to Elle, "...when those proteins hook up with renegade sugars, they become discolored, weak, and
less supple. shows up on the skin's surface as wrinkles, sagginess, and a loss of radiance
Dr. Harold Lancer, dermatologist to Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, says if we cut out the ice cream
sugary cereal, and even large amounts of fruit, people can see changes within as little as
72 to 96 hours. He told The Cut, feel better their color will look better their skin won be so oily and they won be so dry Bye blackheads Beyonc dermatologist also said sugar may be the culprit behind ugly breakouts since it has the ability to weaken the immune system
A weak immune system can't fight off bacteria, and bacteria clogs pores
Clogged pores cause pimples. Sugar can also increase your testosterone levels. In addition to flabby bellies and decreased sex drive, high testosterone translates into
bigger, oilier pores. Get your mojo back A 2007 study from the Child and Family Research Institute found that excessive amounts of sugar
can turn off the gene that controls the levels of estrogen and testosterone in your body
This gene is aptly named the sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG for short
Remember those testosterone problems? Too little SHBG and your body releases extra testosterone and estrogen, which can lead to
infertility, polycystic ovaries, and uterine cancers. If there's too much of it, it still disrupts the balance, which could lead to cardiovascular
disease in women. Losing the love handles Not only does a lack of donuts and cupcakes get rid of empty calories, but cutting out
the sugary snacks helps with insulin release. Insulin is used to communicate with our fat cells
When insulin levels are sky-high, it will tell our cells to store fat and avoid burning more
From here the body can access the stored fat which it interprets to mean I hungry effects are cyclical and the more processed sugar you eat the more processed sugar you want All the while your body is storing fat not burning it and wondering when am I going
to get my next meal? Cut down the sugar, and you might just see your waistline go down, too
Brain power Fructose hits the brain with a temporary high like a drug
But animal research is now suggesting that repeated sugar hits leads to a need for more
sugar to keep that fantastic high going. There's some secret ingredient in these Nutri-Yum bars that make me feel so good. Sugar
It's a block of sugar. Researchers at UCLA also found that a diet high in sugar can affect your ability to learn
new things and remember old ones. They saw that rats who ate too much sugar had impaired communication between brain cells
Last but not least, elevated blood sugar levels can cause inflammation in the body, which can
also lead to brain degeneration and, ultimately, diseases such as Alzheimer's. Addictive tendencies
learning impairment, and memory loss? Not sure those cookies are as sweet as they look
Take the edge off Sugar is often seen as a solution for high-stress situations
but the classic, rebellious pint of ice cream may actually hurt more than it helps
According to Psychology Today sugar is a catalyst for making anxiety worse It can cause symptoms that mirror an anxiety attack such as blurry vision fuzzy head fatigue and shaking The symptoms cause more worry and fear creating a vicious cycle
In 2008, a study in Physiology and Behavior found that rats given an excess of sugar
and then deprived of food, showed a dopamine imbalance which resulted in increased anxiety
The following year, another study in the same publication found that consuming sugar in
the long term reduces the ability to fight anxiety. That delicious ice cream cone may soothe the soul, but too much of it may actually send
you over the edge. A world with no sugar? Before we go cleaning our cabinets of all things sweet or ban birthday cakes from our
kids, let's keep a little perspective. The sugar we've talked about is largely from processed foods like sports drinks, breakfast
cereals, and snacks that are marketed to be healthy, like low-fat yogurts and protein bars
That still leaves plenty of room for more natural forms of sugar, like berries, sweet potatoes
dark chocolate, and even homemade baked goods sweetened with things like honey
We need sugar in our diet. It gives us energy. The problem is our approach to eating it
Just like anything else, too much of anything is a bad thing. 765 grams
Come on, America! Scale it back to more reasonable sugar levels circa 1822, and you might find the picture-perfect
sweet spot that your body loves