- By Prerna Targhotra
- Mon, 17 Jun 2024 05:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
An instant sugar spike, also known as hyperglycemia, occurs when your blood sugar levels rise rapidly after consuming a sugary food or drink. This can have a number of effects on your body, both in the short term and the long term. Some early symptoms of hyperglycemia include thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and headache among others. Shivani Bajwa, Functional Medicine Coach explained about short-term and long-term effects of instant sugar spikes in the body.
Short-Term Effects
Energy surge: The most immediate effect of a sugar spike is an energy surge. This is because sugar is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream and converted into glucose, which your cells use for energy.
Sugar crash: However, this energy surge is often followed by a sugar crash. As your blood sugar levels drop rapidly, you may experience fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Increased hunger: Sugar can also trigger the release of hormones that stimulate hunger, making you feel hungrier even if you've just eaten.
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Long-Term Effects
Weight gain: Over time, frequent sugar spikes can lead to weight gain. This is because your body may start to store excess sugar as fat.
Type 2 diabetes: If your body is constantly working to lower your blood sugar levels, it can eventually become less effective at doing so. This can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Heart disease: High blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk of heart disease.
Effects Of High Blood Sugar
Other health problems: Sugar spikes have also been linked to an increased risk of other health problems, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and some types of cancer.
Impacts Brain Function: Too much added sugar changes how your brain functions. Added sugar has been linked to cognitive decline and degenerative disorders. Research has shown that eating diets high in saturated fat and sugar leads to a range of memory and cognitive impairments regardless of age. This may be due to the inflammatory effects of fat and sugar on the central nervous system. This brain region controls certain types of memory and our response to hunger cues.
Might Age Skin Faster: Consuming a lot of added sugar can hinder collagen repair. Collagen is a protein that keeps skin looking plump. A lack of collagen leads to thinner skin and skin ageing.23 A steady diet of sugary treats can also result in reduced elasticity, poor wound healing, and premature wrinkles because of the way the body breaks down sugar.
One strategy to protect your skin is to indulge your sweet tooth with fruit instead. Fruits also contain antioxidants, which protect the body from inflammation that leads to ageing and some diseases.
Raises Stress Levels: Research has shown that sweets can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the short term. Added sugar may cause problems in the long term. The effect is temporary, and the stressed feeling can return, only a little worse than before, leading to more sugar consumption. Research has found a link between sugar consumption and self-medication for states like stress, anxiety, and depression. This can lead to self-medication with more sweets in some people.
