Sugar and Weight Gain Tricky Treats or Scary Sugar?

Halloween decorations will be hitting the shelves soon and candy is about to invade our homes. We all know that excessive amounts of sugar are bad for our bodies, but do we know why? What are the long term effects of those tricky treats? One day of indulgence in sugary morsels could do some damage to your body, so think about how many days you are snacking on those leftover bite-sized treats. The long term effects can be life altering. Sugar and weight gain are synonymous. You may play out hypothetical situations, “If I eat this, I will gain a few pounds. Is it worth it?” Well, compound last time, this time, and next time and imagine yourself in a year. Obesity is a growing epidemic with adults and children alike.

According to the CDC in 2009-2010, 35.7% of the U.S. adult citizens were obese. The statistics for the children and adolescents that same year was 16.9%. Not only is it a phenotypic, or visible ailment, obesity hides many scary health risks. It is preventable.

Effects of a High Sugar Diet Having a high sugar diet can break down your pancreas. It becomes more difficult for our body to produce insulin, so the pancreas goes into overdrive. Permanent damage to this organ can cause diabetes. Not only does the pancreas regulate insulin, but it is a vital organ for digestion because it releases important enzymes. A regimen of supplements and insulin will be the retroactive response to this organ failing. In addition, sugar can affect your other organs as well. The sugar goes into the blood stream, which is why we check blood glucose levels. Elevated levels can lead to arthrosclerosis, in which the walls of the arteries collect fat or narrow and harden. With many ailments, it remains asymptomatic in the early stages. An excess of sugar can also hurt our immune function. When your immune system is not working at its optimum, you are more disposed to infections. White blood cells need sugar to survive. However, a high dose of glucose will have an immediate detrimental effect. The ability to fight infections, bacteria, and disease fall drastically. It will take time for your immune system to regain its vitality. Other related ailments of sugar abuse are kidney disease, heart attack, strokes, and neuropathy – otherwise known as nerve damage. One of the most recognizable effects is changes in mood. Sugar highs will be followed by sugar crashes. Children are more susceptible to these energy and mood fluctuations.

Healthy Halloween Alternatives Halloween is a cherished holiday, especially from a child-like whimsical point of view. Limiting the sugar intake is the major factor that day, just like all the other 364 days. Instead of focusing on what you cannot have, focus on healthy indulgences. Eating more protein and more fruits are great options. Because it will take longer to digest, eating more protein helps the pancreas because it limits the insulin production. Fruits are high in sugar, but they are good sugars to have. So if your sweet tooth is aching, try to soothe your pain with healthy sugars as opposed to the ice-cream in the back of the freezer or the leftover candy sitting on the coffee table. The whole body is interconnected, so that handful of candy, that soda, and that refill, could have more consequential negatives than the immediate gratification of savoring the sweet taste of Halloween treats. Like in all things, moderation is key.