posted: Feb. 15, 2018.Nutrition and Mental Health: Is Sugar a Sweet Old Friend or Covert Enemy?
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We've all been there when the sugar craving kicks in and it's one of those stressful days when our mood is low, and it becomes easy to reach for a tub of ice cream. It's probably safe to say that we all know that eating too much sugar is bad for our waistline and our physical health. But did you know high amounts of sugar in your diet can also have a negative impact on your emotions and mind? Yikes! Sugar is a sneaky additive substance that can lead to memory and learningimpairment, adrenal exhaustion, autoimmune conditions, digestive and moodimbalances in the body, diabetes, promotes chronic inflammation,risk of Alzheimer's, a poor quality of life and much more. But, guest what? It doesn't have to be this way! At Gucciardo Specific Chiropracticand Natural Health Center we can help you. But before we find out if sugar is yoursweet old friend or your covert enemy, we need to investigate where all the sugar from the foods you're eating are coming from, besides the usual suspects like cakes, candy, and cookies.
When many of my patients present their complaints to me of foggy thinking, forgetfulness, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, inflammation in the body, and insomnia what I most often find is that sugar is the enemy linked to many of the symptoms disrupting their mental health and emotions.
Here’s a little scenario - you wake up, have a glass of orange juice, bagel with cream cheese or a bowl of “healthy” cereal which then activates your tongue’s taste receptors. Your organs are now bombarded by this rush of sugar which your body does not react kindly to. Next, your insulin levels become charged and the sugar is stored in cells for energy. Now, there’s a dip in your blood sugar levels which alarms the adrenal glands making them work over time. When the adrenal glands become charged producing cortisol chemicals it can get your heart racing and possibly revving up symptoms of anxiety, difficulty thinking, fatigue, inflammation in the body or other symptoms. So, what happens next in this scenario? To get out of this uncomfortable and agitated slump you have a midmorning cookie with coffee which temporally makes you feel better!
As you can see sugar can wreak havoc on your mental health and weaken the body’s ability to handle and respond to stress. It’s time to fess up if you engage in these patterns of sugar consumption because the more your brain suffers it may possibly put you at risk for Alzheimer’s or other health related problems mentioned above.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition or other health related obstacles give our office a call today. We can help you make sure sugar isn't making your situation harder than it needs to be.
Lastly, if you want to get more information about this topic, you can start by attending our Free Workshop about Mental Health and Nutrition and learn how you can get a handle on your mental health safely and naturally using proper nutrition. Seating is limited, so please give our office a call today to reserve a seat for you and your guest at 718.845.2323.
