Credits: Social Media
People who crave sweets are 31% more likely to have depression, warn scientists�
As Halloween is just around the corner, most restaurants have already announced exciting menus with mouth-watering sugary treats to celebrate the spooky season.
These are undeniably delicious, but overindulging in refined sugar can cause a range of mental and physical health issues, which even a healthy lifestyle can’t prevent. If you have a sweet tooth, read below to know how your dietary choices affect your mind and body.
People with a sweet tooth at greater risk of health issues
Sweet preference is common among most and many resort to chocolate and cakes to get through a rough day.
While sugary treats, snacks, and drinks may boost your mood instantly, the refined sugar in them can contribute to serious mental and physical health issues.
Upon analyzing the food preferences of 180,000 volunteers within the UK Biobank, scientists found that people with a sweet tooth face a 31% greater risk of depression than those who are health-conscious or omnivores.
Nophar Geifman, Professor of Health and Biomedical informatics writes: “We also found that the sweet group had higher rates of diabetes, as well as vascular heart conditions, compared to the other two groups.”
While the sweet tooth group preferred foods such as cakes, sweets, and sugar drinks, health-conscious people prefer fruits and vegetables over animal-based products.
Omnivores who like most foods like meats, fish, and some vegetables as well as sweets and desserts have “moderate health risks.”
Healthier alternatives to refined sugar
Participants from the sweet tooth group had a higher level of “C reactive protein, which is a marker for inflammation.” Their blood results show higher levels of glucose and poor lipid profiles, which the scientists call the “warning sign for diabetes and heart disease.”
If lowering your sugar intake or eliminating it from your diet is hard, consider healthy, and natural options great for your body and brain.
Neuroscientist Dr. Robert Love, who has dedicated his life and work to helping people prevent Alzheimer’s disease, recommends three alternatives:
1. Allulose�- A natural and rare sugar found in dates, figs, and raisins. This doesn’t spike your blood sugar and can be used as a one-to-one substitute for artificial sugar.
2. Monk Fruit�- Monk Fruit sugar is the next best option available in liquid form. which can be mixed with beverages, from coffee to drinks as its a zero-calorie sweetener.
3. Stevia – The natural sugar substitute can be had by mixing one drop with two drops of monk fruit sugar. It lacks calories and regulates your glucose and sugar levels.
- STRANGE BUT TRUE: Wet or dry earwax can determine how ‘smelly’ you are
