What happens to your teeth and body when you binge on sugar?
We all know that sugar is necessarily the healthiest things for us to eat. But like most things, if we use moderation we should be fine. However, we need to be aware that sugar and sweets affects your body in a number of ways. We will discuss how sugar can affect you in the short term and the long term.
It is no secret that sugar can lead to cavities. Decay causing bacteria on your teeth feed on the sugar to create cavities. So when you are exposing your teeth to sugar throughout the day without the opportunity to fight back with brushing and fluoride, you are more likely to lose that battle. Moderation is essential, but you should also find a way to brush, floss, and rinse to clean your teeth and mouth following a sugary snack. At the very least you should rinse with water to cleanse some of the sugar from your teeth.
When you eat sugar, other parts of your body also feel the strain. When you eat sugar, your brain responds the same it would to cocaine or other drugs. Both sugar and drugs cause your body to release dopamine and serotonin. As you become accustomed to that feeling your body craves in more and more. It is good to be aware of this so you can help regulate your desire for more sweets.
If you continue to overdue sugar and sweets overtime, your blood flow can be affected. Having blood saturated with sugar can damage just about every organ, including your arteries. It is like trying to pump sludge through your body, which will eventually lead to decreased blood flow to all parts of your body. It can lead to chronic diseases and an increased chance of having a stroke.
An easy way to keep tabs on how much sugar you are ingesting is to pay attention to the labels on whatever you eat. It is shocking to find out how many different foods contain sugar (i.e. ketchup). Simply being aware of what you put in your body is a great first step to limiting sugar intake.