THE TRUTH ABOUT SUGAR
We crave it. We reward ourselves with it. Despite the knowledge that it doesn’t carry any health benefits, most of us still eat it and bake with it nearly every day. How much do you know about sugar? In this blog, health expert Jasmine Talei of The Beverly Hills Center for Plastic & Laser Surgery weighs in on the topic of sugar. She explains the difference between brown and white sugar and reveals the hard truth about the consequences of eating too much sugar.
Brown Sugar Versus White Sugar
Both brown and white sugars are considered refined sweeteners. These refined sweeteners don’t have much nutritional value and often carry high caloric values.
Brown sugar is slightly preferred to white sugar from a health point of view. This is because brown sugar is basically white sugar with molasses. Therefore, brown sugar consists of certain minerals, such as magnesium, iron and calcium. However, don’t put brown sugar on your list of healthy foods just yet, as these elements are in trace amounts and are not enough to be a real source of nutrients.
White sugar is refined raw sugar, meaning that the raw sugar has been further stripped and whitened. In other words, the nutrients from the sugar cane or sugar beet that it is derived from have been removed. White sugar tends to taste sweeter than brown sugar. However, while your taste buds may prefer white sugar, it is certainly not wanted by your body.
The Problem With Sugar
As previously mentioned, sugar can add a desirable taste and flavor, but it also adds a lot of calories and almost no nutritional value. While you may think of sugar as bad for your teeth and your waistline, sugar can actually disrupt the health and function of your entire body. Sugar can throw off the healthy pH balance that is necessary to modulate our immune system. Sugar also acts as a fuel for fungus and can exacerbate many skin conditions. Lastly, foods high in sugar contribute to inflammation in the body that can aggravate chronic conditions, contribute to joint pain and lead to other unwanted health issues.
To make matters worse, sugar is also considered addictive. In fact, Cassie Bjork, R.D., L.D., founder of Healthy Simple Life says, “Research shows that sugar can be even more addicting than cocaine. Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward center, which leads to compulsive behavior, despite the negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, hormone imbalances, and more.”
Healthy Body Equals Confident Skin
At the AuraSpa Healing Center of Beverly Hills, we value the importance of educating our patients about the critical role that nutrition plays in our health and wellbeing as well as our skin. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so it makes sense that fueling it with proper nutrients can go a long way in how your skin looks and feels. To learn more about healthy steps you can take towards a healthier you, please contact the AuraSpa Healing Center today.
