Depression Has Been Linked to Overeating of Added Sugar

Eating too much added sugar from sweetened foods and beverages can have many negative health effects, such as weight gain, high blood sugar and an increased risk of heart disease. For the first time in 20 years, the FDA has revised its Nutrient Food Labels for packaged food products to highlight the links between chronic diseases and diet, especially in how the revised nutrition labels lists sugars. High sugar diets have been associated with an increased risk of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease which is the number one cause of death worldwide.

• Less Fatigue - The damage that added sugar does to your body begins in your brain. Overeating, learning disorders, poor memory and depression have been linked to the over consumption of sugar. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the average American adult consumes 156 pounds of added sugar per year.
• Happier You - According to a study at Columbia University Medical Center, ending a bad day with a bowl of cookie dough may make you feel worse in the long haul. Postmenopausal women with diets high in added sugars were at an increased risk of new-onset depression.
• Shed Pounds - According to the Harvard School of Public Health, adults consume 22 teaspoons or around 350 calories of added sugars. Since sugar is addicting, consuming less of it can help manage sugar cravings to lose weight.
• Fewer Colds - As if being sick isn't bad enough, a high intake of added sugar can interfere with how well your immune system fights disease. Excess blood glucose or added sugars in the bloodstream can cause a buildup of bacteria or yeast that feeds on sugar.

An overzealous approach at cutting back on added sugar can backfire. For example, you may find yourself satisfying your cravings for sweets by eating refined starches like white bread or rice, which can also spike sugar levels and cause problems with heart health. There are many health consequences to sugar addiction and while it might seem like it should be easy to just stop eating sugar, it's not. So, understand that any successful journey to end your addiction will take your best effort. The best chance you have to quit sugar and fight sugar addiction is to take it day by day.