Is Sugar Killing Your Thyroid?
Are you fond of having sugary foods all the time? Do you treat yourself to candies and cakes often? I mean, who doesn’t, right?
Whether it’s the coffee to start our day or a cake slice after dinner, sugar has seeped into every meal. With that said, I cannot stress the importance of regulating sugar intake enough.
Whether it’s the coffee to start our day or a cake slice after dinner, sugar has seeped into every meal. With that said, I cannot stress the importance of regulating sugar intake enough.
Extra sugar intake might be the answer to a lot of health-related problems you face daily. Most importantly, sugar’s effect on the thyroid directly affects your metabolism, causing several ailments.
Studies have shown that extra sugar in your blood damages your thyroid. And trust me on this, you don’t want a gland as necessary as the thyroid to get hurt.
But why do I have sugar cravings, and how can I healthily satisfy them is what most people think. I also faced this dilemma in the past, and for that reason, allow me to put light on the subject!
Studies have shown that extra sugar in your blood damages your thyroid. And trust me on this, you don’t want a gland as necessary as the thyroid to get hurt.
But why do I have sugar cravings, and how can I healthily satisfy them is what most people think. I also faced this dilemma in the past, and for that reason, allow me to put light on the subject!
Why Do We Have Sugar Cravings?
If you crave sugary foods often, don’t worry. It’s completely normal! Cravings are a result of classical conditioning, a type of human behavior in which you do things that give a sense of reward.
The most exciting thing about classical conditioning is that you won’t know what gives you that rewarding feeling until it becomes a permanent habit. However, habituation is not exactly addiction, like we see in drugs.
Moreover, another study pointed out that stress can also lead to a sudden sugar craving. It is linked with your body’s glucose levels, and as soon as they go downhill, your body orders you to eat something sweet.
As a sweets lover myself, I can confirm that the urge to eat something sweet is quite compelling. But if we keep ingesting sugars, especially fructose, it will have detrimental effects on our body.
The thyroid gland in your neck is perhaps the most vulnerable structure when it comes to increased blood sugar levels.
The most exciting thing about classical conditioning is that you won’t know what gives you that rewarding feeling until it becomes a permanent habit. However, habituation is not exactly addiction, like we see in drugs.
Moreover, another study pointed out that stress can also lead to a sudden sugar craving. It is linked with your body’s glucose levels, and as soon as they go downhill, your body orders you to eat something sweet.
As a sweets lover myself, I can confirm that the urge to eat something sweet is quite compelling. But if we keep ingesting sugars, especially fructose, it will have detrimental effects on our body.
The thyroid gland in your neck is perhaps the most vulnerable structure when it comes to increased blood sugar levels.
Excessive Sugar Consumption Adversely Affects Your Thyroid!
I have seen numerous people who didn’t manage their sugar intake and are now suffering from a myriad of ailments. Thyroid diseases occur more frequently than all other diseases(except for diabetes).
It might appear a long hop as to how a substance as harmless as table sugar damages your thyroid. Surprisingly, it does damage your thyroid, the epicenter of your body’s metabolism. And I’m not saying this based solely on personal experience!
Several research pieces have indicated that overeating sugary foods regularly can disrupt your thyroid’s proper function. Moreover, if your sugary diet persists, the likelihood of you developing hypo or hyperthyroidism is relatively high!
If you are alarmed(and you should be!) and want to know how sugar hinders your thyroid’s function, read on!
Several research pieces have indicated that overeating sugary foods regularly can disrupt your thyroid’s proper function. Moreover, if your sugary diet persists, the likelihood of you developing hypo or hyperthyroidism is relatively high!
If you are alarmed(and you should be!) and want to know how sugar hinders your thyroid’s function, read on!
How Exactly Does Sugar Damage Your Thyroid Gland?
The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroxine, a hormone that controls our metabolism. An increase in blood sugar level disrupts normal thyroid function, causing it to produce varying amounts of hormones.
Constant stress on the thyroid is the last thing you want. Because the gland overworks and its function gets impaired, there are some calamitic consequences. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are severe conditions, and you want to stay away from them.
I’ll make the mechanism of sugar-related thyroid injury really simple to understand for you. What happens inside your body when you eat massive amounts of sugar? Yes, the blood sugar level rises dramatically.
As it peaks, your glands, especially the pancreas and thyroid, work harder than usual to neutralize the distress. The thyroid produces more thyroxine to increase metabolic activity in your cells, ultimately reducing glucose levels.
I’ll make the mechanism of sugar-related thyroid injury really simple to understand for you. What happens inside your body when you eat massive amounts of sugar? Yes, the blood sugar level rises dramatically.
As it peaks, your glands, especially the pancreas and thyroid, work harder than usual to neutralize the distress. The thyroid produces more thyroxine to increase metabolic activity in your cells, ultimately reducing glucose levels.
When this happens regularly, the cells in the glandular thyroid epithelium get damaged. The condition can rapidly escalate if you don’t regulate your sugar intake soon. If it does get worse, you may develop either of the following symptoms.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism refers to the elevated levels of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream, namely thyroxine, and triiodothyronine. When your blood sugar rises, you gradually develop hyperthyroidism.
The thing is, hyperthyroidism is not just affecting your sugar metabolism. In fact, it is a syndrome and has numerous direct effects on almost all systems of your body. Hyperthyroidism will decrease your body weight as it speeds up the metabolism.
Moreover, you’ll slowly develop muscle fatigue, nervousness, convulsions, dizziness, lack of proper motility, tremors, and an irregular heartbeat. On top of that, hyperthyroidism can also bring about the early onset of diabetes mellitus.
Moreover, you’ll slowly develop muscle fatigue, nervousness, convulsions, dizziness, lack of proper motility, tremors, and an irregular heartbeat. On top of that, hyperthyroidism can also bring about the early onset of diabetes mellitus.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the exact opposite of the aforementioned. Understandably, thyroid hormones’ concentration decreases in this condition, making your metabolism slower than usual.
Persistent elevation of blood glucose above 150mg/dL usually causes this condition due to the glandular epithelium’s impairment. Additionally, it affects more than just your sugar metabolism.
People with hypothyroidism tend to gain a lot of weight, feel sudden bursts of blindness, fatigue, and prolonged weakness.
Persistent elevation of blood glucose above 150mg/dL usually causes this condition due to the glandular epithelium’s impairment. Additionally, it affects more than just your sugar metabolism.
People with hypothyroidism tend to gain a lot of weight, feel sudden bursts of blindness, fatigue, and prolonged weakness.
Diabetes and Thyroid Diseases
About 463 million adults are living with diabetes worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Foundation. When you eat extra sugar, it stresses your body to produce more insulin, leading to further complications.
And I hate to tell you this, but excessive sugar intake not only affects your pancreas but also damages your thyroid. Diabetes and thyroid diseases have a direct link. Studies have indicated that people with thyroid anomalies tend to have disruptive insulin production.
Hence, you must limit your sugar intake to avoid such diseases in the first place. Additionally, I understand that suddenly quitting sugar is not a practical option.
For that reason, I have compiled a list of tips and sugar substitutes you can use instead of eating regular cane or corn-based sugar.
For that reason, I have compiled a list of tips and sugar substitutes you can use instead of eating regular cane or corn-based sugar.
Reducing Sugar Intake
Sugar is not healthy for your body. I cannot stress this enough. People often confuse table sugar with blood sugar. Your body needs glucose to survive, and we get that from carbohydrates in our diet, like bread or rice.
Table sugar just instantly increases your blood sugar level, causing your metabolism to take a sharp turn. If this persists, you could be doing severe damage to your internal structures, especially the thyroid.
Table sugar just instantly increases your blood sugar level, causing your metabolism to take a sharp turn. If this persists, you could be doing severe damage to your internal structures, especially the thyroid.
Therefore, I recommend you to swap all the unhealthy, sugary items with healthier, natural alternatives.
Fresh fruit juice is a perfect replacement for things like soft drinks and artificial juices.
Some Healthy (and Tasty!) Substitutes For Sugar
If you cannot control your sweet tooth and need something that can satisfy all your cravings while keeping your health checked, I have just the thing you need. Here are four delicious, healthy replacements for regular table sugar.
Monk Fruit Juice
Monk fruit sugar is my favorite. It contains numerous antioxidants that are responsible for its peculiar sweet taste. Studies have indicated that it contains zero calories, is 250 times sweeter than sugar, and is perfect to use as a flavor enhancer! Traditionally, dried monk fruit was used in herbal medicines. Nowadays, it has become popular and people use it as a natural sweetener.
Its extract contains mogrosides, substances which are extremely sweet. Monk fruit is a nonnutritive sweetener. This means that it has little-to-no nutrients or calories. Monk fruit sweeteners are 150-200 times sweeter than sugar and offer sweetness without adding calories to dishes and beverages.
Monk fruit sweeteners, like all no- and low-calorie sweeteners, require only a minimal amount to achieve the sweetness of sugar. They are usually combined with common authorized culinary components to make measuring and pouring easier. Since 2010, the FDA has approved monk fruit sweeteners as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), a classification that requires expert consensus that a food ingredient is safe for its intended use.
Additionally, there’s no actual evidence or studies showing any negative side effects of monk fruit. What is more, sweeteners made of monk fruit don’t affect blood sugar levels, but in case you have diabetes or try to lose weight, please read monk fruit product labels to avoid added higher-calorie and higher-glycemic sweeteners.
Monk fruit sweeteners, like all no- and low-calorie sweeteners, require only a minimal amount to achieve the sweetness of sugar. They are usually combined with common authorized culinary components to make measuring and pouring easier. Since 2010, the FDA has approved monk fruit sweeteners as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), a classification that requires expert consensus that a food ingredient is safe for its intended use.
Additionally, there’s no actual evidence or studies showing any negative side effects of monk fruit. What is more, sweeteners made of monk fruit don’t affect blood sugar levels, but in case you have diabetes or try to lose weight, please read monk fruit product labels to avoid added higher-calorie and higher-glycemic sweeteners.
Stevia
Stevia extract is a harmless natural sugar substitute, unlike artificial sweeteners that damage your kidneys and liver. The FDA has approved purified stevia extract, stevioside, for use as a sweetener.
Allulose
Allulose is a natural sweetener extracted from wheat and other grains. I use it to sweeten my yogurt and tea, and it works like a charm! Moreover, studies show that most of the ingested cellulose exits without metabolizing, causing no effect on our homeostasis!
These Substitutes Taste Really Good – Based on Personal Experience!
Now, to address the elephant in the room, are these natural substitutes just healthy (and bland), or are they actually delicious. Based on my personal experience of using them for several years, I can assure you that they taste like regular sugar!
Out of the four alternatives mentioned above, monk fruit and allulose are my personal favorites. They taste lovely, and I incorporate them in my tea, yogurt, and pretty much every dessert I make.
Out of the four alternatives mentioned above, monk fruit and allulose are my personal favorites. They taste lovely, and I incorporate them in my tea, yogurt, and pretty much every dessert I make.
Do They Have Any Side Effects?
As all the sweeteners I mentioned above are natural, they have no side effects as long as you use them within limits. I personally have been using them for years, and now, I can proudly say that I have omitted sugar from my diet!
Natural substances have minimal side effects. If you avoid overusing them, you’ll be good to go. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should consult your physician before making changes in your diet.
Natural substances have minimal side effects. If you avoid overusing them, you’ll be good to go. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should consult your physician before making changes in your diet.
Final Thoughts
Although sugar might appear harmless, it can harm your body if you take excessive amounts regularly. Being a foodie, sugary foods were a crucial part of my life. But as soon as I realized its adverse effects, I changed my lifestyle.
It can be challenging initially, but once you get the gist of it, life becomes much more manageable. So, try these four alternatives, and live a healthy life!
It can be challenging initially, but once you get the gist of it, life becomes much more manageable. So, try these four alternatives, and live a healthy life!
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