Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Sugar Effect

So, we all know that sugar, because it is a carbohydrate, give us the crashing effect. This happens because carbohydrates give a quick energy that burns strong and fast bringing a burst of energy that is good for workouts and much needed "pick me ups" in the morning to get us going and in between meals to keep us going. But it doesn't last long. The long lastig energy comes from protein.

But what people don't know a lot of the times is that sugar also stops hunger in the satiety center of the brain. This means that when we eat sugar it actually tuns off the part of our brain that tells us that we are not hungry anymore, essentially leaving us defenseless against our cravings.

Now, I absolutely believe it is necessary to have treats every once in a while and to treat ourselves to dessert. But I also believe it is necessary to educate ourselves about sugar and what it does to our bodies. The more we know about it the more likely we are to make smart decisions when we consume it.

So the next time you reach for that chocolate cake or the CrispyCreme doughnut just keep in mind that it is going to tell your brain that you are still hungry. My advice to you is to wait 45 minutes to an hour before you reach for any more food after eating dessert. Give your body a chance to work through the sugar. Just be smart, I know you know what to do. And if all else fails, visualize sugar like this:

Little balls of death!

2 comments:

Kellie said...

haha, good info!! I actually didn't know that! Thanks!!

InWeighOverMyHead said...

Yikes! I just ate a peanut butter cup! lol