I doubt that there is anyone out there who has never indulged in a sweet treat, whether
that is a warm cinnamon bun on a cold winter day or even a cold sorbet in the scorching summer heat. No matter what dessert we think of, the sweetness we find so appealing is none other that our well-known sugar, which may seem like a totally harmless molecule that binds glucose and fructose to create a delightful flavour that gets our brains completely and utterly hooked, but it should come as no surprise that it unfortunately has never brought our bodies any benefits (besides warming our souls, of course!). So what actually happens when we eat sugar?
Firstly, it is quite essential to understand that the term we commonly use as “sugar”
makes reference to the compound called “sucrose”, as science refers to all simple carbohydrates as sugars and not just this particular substance. Taking a look into the metabolism of simple carbohydrates, we can grasp that this fundamental biochemical process is critical for energy production in living organisms, which converts these compounds into usable materials for performing all the various functions necessary for our survival.
Let’s now take a look into the metabolism of sucrose and understand what truly goes on
in our bodies after we eat sweets. The breakdown process of sugar implies that the glucose
molecule is directly absorbed into the bloodstream, whereas the fructose one has to be firstly transported to the liver where it undergoes a conversion to become glucose, just like her former friend. Here is where a hormone called insulin enters the equation in order to ensure the regulation of blood sugar levels and try its best to keep them steady by transporting them to cells all throughout the body for immediate energy production. But, let’s hypothetically, and just hypothetically, say that one too many slices of cake may provide a tad bit too much sugar and an unnecessary amount of energy for the immediate needs of our bodies. This is the case where our many, many excess glucose molecules are turned into glycogen and are stored in the liver, muscles and, once the glycogen stores are full, into adipose tissue, also known as fat.
Now, it is mandatory to keep in my mind that sugar is a very deceiving molecule which
succeeds in confusing our hunger and satiety hormones, meaning that we are prone to overeating and having an increased appetite if and when we consume sucrose in excess. Our brains secrete a feel-good chemical, dopamine, which quite literally makes our brains addicted to this tricky compound and crave the the same feeling of pleasure over and over again, but soon a small treat will not do the trick anymore and the sugar concentration that would satisfy the brain before will steadily increase in order to get the same feeling of happiness, also called a “sugar high”.
Inevitably, this leads to a “sugar crash”, making us jittery, anxious and lethargic. Our teeth could start forming cavities, our skin would be prone to losing its elasticity and an immense
inflammation in the body would be the culprit of sabotaging the overall health of our pancreas, liver, kidneys and heart. Is that not a very overwhelming piece of information?
Of course, anything we consume in moderation will not have such drastic consequences
for our bodies, but as sugar has turned from an ingredient that our ancestors barely ever had access to into a staple ingredient in almost all convenience foods, we should not forget that while it certainly brings us a lot of joy, sugar is a very well hidden enemy.
Bibliography:
Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspé
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