T2 – Lazy Girl https://lazy-girl.net makeing healthy eating easy, delicious, and fun Mon, 27 Mar 2023 14:02:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://lazy-girl.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cropped-1-32x32.png T2 – Lazy Girl https://lazy-girl.net 32 32 Keto Diet Food List: Everything You Need to Know https://lazy-girl.net/keto-diet-food-list-everything-you-need-to-know/ Sun, 26 Mar 2023 20:57:26 +0000 https://lazy-girl.net/?p=2509 Do you want to start a keto diet and don’t know what to eat? This keto diet food list will tell you everything. A ketogenic diet is an excellent way to lose weight and improve your health.

This guide will show you how to choose keto-friendly foods, such as meat, fish, seafood and cheese. It also shows how to avoid sweets, bread, potatoes, sweets, sweets, and other high carb foods.

So you’ve decided to try the ketogenic diet. What now? Are you sure what to eat next?

If you’re looking for a low-carb diet, the keto diet is one of the most popular choices for healthy weight loss. Get this quick guide to keto food.

If you’re still scratching your head, or perhaps just need a little refresher, not to worry. You can lose weight by eating a diet high in fats such as cheeses and meats.

Table of contents

  • Keto diet food list
  • What You Can Eat on a Keto Diet
  • What You Can’t Eat on a Keto Diet
  • What dessert can I eat on keto?
  • Where to buy keto desserts?

Keto diet food list

This list of ketogenic (keto-friendly) diet foods contains everything you need to eat in order to be successful with the ketogenic diet. The good news about keto is that it is one of the easiest diets you’ll find.

Being on a diet isn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially when you don’t know what you should eat. We’ve put together this ketogenic diet food list to help people out there make decisions on what they are eating and shopping for.

The bad news is? It can feel pretty strict at times, and it’s easy to miss the foods you used to eat if you focus on what’s lacking. So let’s start with all the delicious whole foods you can eat.

  • Fats & Oils – Get your fats from natural sources such as meat and nuts. You can also supplement with saturated and monounsaturated oils like butter, coconut oil, and olive oil.
  • Protein – When possible, stick to organic, pasture-raised and grass-fed meats. Most meats don’t have added sugar in them, so they can be consumed in moderate quantities. A ketogenic diet should not contain too much protein.
  • Vegetables – Fresh or frozen doesn’t matter. Keep it simple with the above-ground veggies and lean towards leafy/green vegetables.
  • Dairy – Although most dairy is acceptable, make sure you only buy full-fat products. Harder cheeses have less carbs.
  • Nuts and Seeds – Nuts and seeds can be used in moderation to create wonderful textures. Use fattier nuts such as macadamias or almonds.
  • Beverages.On a ketogenic diet, you have many other drinks options than water. There are many alcoholic drinks that can be enjoyed with low carbs or zero carbs. Just make sure you don’t overdo it and remember what your goals are or just stay simple and stick to mostly water. If you feel the need to flavor it, you can use stevia-based flavorings and lemon/lime water.
  • Fruit – Fruit on the ketogenic diet must be limited and eaten in very small amounts, as they have a high sugar content (besides avocados, which can be enjoyed frequently). Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables are fine. Organic is preferred but not necessary.

Get more specifics on what you can and can’t eat on keto below:

What You Can Eat on the Keto Diet

  • Meat –Steak, pork, chicken, meat, ground beef lamb, bacon, sausage, low carb fish, and seafood (in restricted quantities and with fattier cuts).
  • Most Fats and Oils – butter, coconut oil, olive oil, ghee, lard, avocado oil, mayonnaise
  • Some Vegetables – cauliflower, cabbage, avocado, broccoli, zucchini, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumber, onion, mushroom, spinach, lettuce, green beans, olives
  • High-Fat Dairy –Heavy cream, soft and hard cheeses, cream cheeses, sour milk
  • Nuts –Peanut butter, almonds, peanut butter and almond butter, macadamia nuts. Pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts.
  • Eggs
  • Unsweetened Tea and Coffee
  • Spices – just make sure they don’t contain any sugars and are purely the herb or spice itself. You can use them as an example: Basil, Oregano and Rosemary, Thyme or Cilantro.

Although it may seem easy to give up soda, the rest of those on the banned list can be difficult. You can get rid of bread, rice, pasta and all other foods, including fruit, vegetables, corn, potatoes, beans.

You should avoid starches and sugars. Whole grains like oatmeal don’t even make the cut!

What You Can’t Eat on a Keto Diet

  • Fruit – apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, watermelon, peaches, melon, pineapple, cherries, pears, lemons, limes, grapefruits, plums, mango, etc.
  • Grains and Starches –wheat, rice, rye and oats.
  • Root Vegetables –Sweet and regular potatoes, carrots, yams parsnips, yuca beets, turnips
  • Grain Products – cereal, bread, pasta, rice, corn, oatmeal, crackers, pizza, popcorn, granola, bagels, muesli, flour
  • Legumes –Black beans, kidney beans. pinto beans. navy beans. soybeans. chickpeas. lentils.
  • Sweeteners –Honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, honey; Splenda; aspartame; saccharin; corn syrup
  • Sweets –Candies, chocolate, cakes and pastries, cakes, tarts, pastries & tarts, pies & ice cream, cookies, custard, and candy
  • Some Oils –Canola oil and soybean oil are also available.
  • Alcohol –Beer, cider and sweet wines.
  • Sweetened Drinks –Juice, smoothies, sodas, sweetened tea and coffee
  • Low-Fat Dairy –Skim milk and skim mozzarella, fat free yogurt, low-fat yogurt, cream cheese, and fat-free yogurt.
  • Sweetened Sauces and Dips –ketchup and tomato sauce, some salad dressings and hot sauces

What dessert can I eat with keto?

Do you get bored eating the same thing over and again? Look no further! Let’s be honest here, you can eat dessert on keto and still be healthy.

Low-carb desserts are the best to eat when following the Keto diet. They’re also high in healthy fats and low carb. You should replace sugary pastries, such as cookies, cakes, and cupcakes, with desserts with lower carbohydrate and more fat.

You can make healthier desserts at home or provide healthier options when you go out.

A keto diet without desserts can be difficult. Do you know when you’re hungry and craving something sweet? Well, we’ve got you covered!

I know what it’s like to be keto and craving something sweet. Here you will find the BEST keto dessertsRecipes that are simple, delicious, and require little preparation. You’ll find cakes, brownies, baked goods, cheesecakes, and more.

Where can I buy keto desserts

Ready to get started on the keto diet but don’t know where to find desserts? You can find keto desserts in your local supermarket, thanks to the ketogenic diet becoming increasingly popular.

To buy keto desserts online, it’s just as easy. There are many keto desserts available at Walmart. order them on Amazon.

Here’s what I found 21 Best Keto Snacks On Amazon that everyone on the keto diet should try.

Are you looking for keto desserts? To see what keto desserts are available to you, google ‘keto dessert near me‘ with location settings turned out.

Google will then direct you to the nearest location that has these desserts.

We are looking for a high-quality ketogenic diet. This means quality fat. The source is important.

Stick to the outside ring of the grocery store, buy foods that don’t make health claims, and buy foods that have a maximum of two or three ingredients (preferably just one) and you will be well on your way to a successful keto diet.

If you’re still tempted to try keto, consult with your doctor before embarking on any extreme weight loss plan.

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What Is The Keto Flu And How To Avoid It https://lazy-girl.net/what-is-the-keto-flu-and-how-to-avoid-it/ Sat, 25 Mar 2023 22:53:38 +0000 https://lazy-girl.net/?p=2379 The keto flu is almost a necessity to enter ketosis. The keto flu is your body’s natural way of reacting to the lack of carbs.

Keto flu is an illness that can occur when you eat a Ketogenic or low-carb diet. The flu can last for as long as a week.

While some people experience the Keto Flu in a short time, others may feel the effects for several days. Extreme cases of flu may last as long as 30 consecutive days. This is very rare.

The majority of people consume significant amounts carbohydrates throughout their lives.

Our bodies and brains are content with carbohydrates and have evolved to adapt through hormonal or metabolic processes that normally occur in the background.

Keep your thoughts positive and believe in your body’s ability to adapt. These symptoms will soon disappear, and you will be mentally strong.

Switching fuel sources can cause shock to your body. The keto flu simply refers to the symptoms you’ll experience as you journey to ketosis.

It is not flu and it’s definitely not contagious, but it is annoying.

Although it may be a shock to your system to have to give up these foods, it will make you a better person.

Your daily carb intake is a major factor in your body’s health. You will start to feel symptoms of flu.

This post may contain affiliate links. Amazon Associate: I refer qualified purchases at no extra cost to you! 

Keto Flu: What are the Symptoms?

Different symptoms will be experienced by each person. Certain symptoms can almost always be attributed to keto flu when you start the diet.

  • Nausea
  • Sniffles
  • Dizziness
  • Irritability
  • Stomach Discomfort
  • Difficulty focusing (“brain fog”)
  • Tiredness
  • Insomnia
  • Sugar cravings
  • Headache
  • Muscle Soreness
  • Sore throat

These symptoms may not last long after you start the diet. Your body just needs to adjust to what you’re starting to put it through.

These symptoms can be painful and it is not enjoyable. I know this personally. It’s a painful experience. It makes one wonder if the diet is worth it. This diet won’t last forever, which is the good news.

These feelings and symptoms will disappear once your body enters ketosis.

Flu prevention

1.Electrolytes

By replenishing electrolytes, you can reduce the symptoms of keto flu. One of the biggest reasons for keto flu is the lack of electrolytes in your body.

Electrolytes have a significant impact on many aspects of our bodies including water quantity and muscle function.

The electrolytes that you’re losing are magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Potassium is lost when the sodium level falls.

The body must maintain fluid stability by balancing sodium and potassium.

Keto flu symptoms are closely connected to potassium deficiencies. The most common signs include fatigue, cramps and weakness.

To maintain a high level of potassium, you can either eat healthy or take potassium supplements.

How do you make sure you have enough electrolytes?

Water enhancers can be added to your water supply. Mio Electrolytes Berry Blast.

You can also eat more foods that contain sodium or if you’re a fan of hot sauce drown your food in it. Don’t hesitate to add salt to your meals as well.

Some people love a cup of chicken broth every day. Bone brothThis may be the most effective way for you to alleviate your keto flu symptoms.

This method can be used to supplement your diet with water and electrolytes. It also has sodium and potassium. Add salt to low-carb chicken soup.

Natural foods like spinach and dark leafy vegetables are rich in potassium. Meat and Fish also play a role, but usually, you’ll have more than enough anyway.

Magnesium, the last essential mineral, can help you avoid ketoflu. Magnesium plays a crucial role in every cell of our bodies.

Magnesium levels that drop during keto-adaptation can cause flu symptoms. Insufficient magnesium can cause problems with sodium and potassium.

If you can keep up your electrolyte intake then you’ll be fine.

2. Increase Calories – Get more fat

Keto is a diet where you need to watch how many calories are consumed. To combat the Keto flu, you may need to temporarily increase your calorie intake. Keto Cheesecake Fat BombsThese tasty snacks are an easy and quick way to get more calories and healthy fats, while still being low-carb. They’re always available!

For ketosis to occur, 75-80% of your daily calories must come from fat. 5 percent must come from carbohydrate and the rest from proteins. Increase the fat content in your diet and you will feel fuller faster.

After you’ve been on a ketogenic diet for some time, it will be second nature to explore other ways of adding fats to your diet. Keto recipes, and eventually, you’ll get the hang of it.

Protein should make up 20% of your calories. Too much protein can cause your body to turn it into glucose.

During the adaption phase, don’t worry so much about being in a caloric deficit (this can do more harm than good in the beginning).

3.Lemon Water with Sea Salt

This is the best drink to have throughout the day to avoid the Keto flu. Every time I began to suffer from a bit of nausea after a high-fat low-carb meal I’d a have few glasses of lemon water with sea salt. This is a wonderful way to satisfy your cravings while avoiding withdrawal symptoms. This can help replenish electrolytes that have been lost during the transition.

4. Low-intensity exercise – It’s possible to take it easy with physical activity

Low-intensity exercises are last but not least. For keto flu symptoms, it is important to move around and walk before you eat. A morning walk is a great way to reduce glycogen levels and get ketosis under control faster. Walking after you wakeup can help you feel more awake, energized, and full of energy.

If you are weight training in the gym, make sure you’re allowing yourself enough time to rest if you’re working out.

As you can see, conquering the keto flu isn’t rocket science. It is easy to be consistent and listen to your body. At first, the keto flu can seem like a punishment, but in reality, it’s a sign that you are on the right track with your diet. Let your body adapt, drink more fluids, and eat more healthy fats. Then you will be in ketosis in no time and you don’t even remember what the heck keto flu was all about.

Once you pass the 1-week mark you’re going to feel great, your energy will be elevated as your body makes the switch, and you’ll be triumphal for staying strong.

You may be suffering from electrolyte deficiencies.

Just stay confident, keep moving forward, keep electrolytes topped up, and you’ll beat the keto flu.

You will see a change in your body after a couple of days or a whole week.

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Lose 24 Pounds In Just 14 Days – Boiled Egg Diet 2 Weeks Plan https://lazy-girl.net/lose-24-pounds-in-just-14-days-boiled-egg-diet-2-weeks-plan/ Sat, 25 Mar 2023 22:53:10 +0000 https://lazy-girl.net/?p=2351 This boiled egg diet planIt includes fruits and vegetables as well as eggs. Amazing results!

A boiled egg diet plan may help youIn 2 weeks, you can lose 24 pounds. This egg diet is easy and simple to follow. This diet can help you lose weight quickly and with fewer workouts.

To lose weight fast, try a boiled egg diet. It takes only 2 weeks.

Table of contents

  • How does the egg diet work?
  • Does the 14 days boiled egg diet work?
  • Is the boiled egg diet safe?
  • Boiled Egg Diet – Two Week Menu:
  • Boiled Egg Diet – FIRST WEEK
  • Boiled Egg Diet – SECOND WEEK

What does the egg diet look like?

Eggs are high in protein and can burn calories quickly. They are high in protein and essential vitamins. They provide energy throughout the day.

It is important to note that white only contains protein, while the yolk has all the nutrients.

Many people are determined to lose weight. It’s almost impossible to lose weight without reducing the calorie intake even though it shouldn’t be rigorous, to be hungry, and not consume the necessary nutrients.

Everyone who wants to lose weight is looking for a way to do it effectively. This popular boiled egg diet promises quick and effective weight loss. You can lose 24 pounds in just two weeks.

A healthy diet involves eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as beans and grains. But, in order to lower your calorie intake, cut down on sweets, fast foods, fizzy drinks, and high-calorie desserts.

You might be wondering why you feel hungry constantly. drink more water. Drink more! You’ll be more energetic, fitter, and will stop feeling hungry.

When you’re bored, water drinking will make it easier to eat less.

I will attempt to provide all you need to know about boiled eggs and how to maximize your success using a simple menu.

People are constantly searching for ways to lose weight and fast tips.

Is the 14-day boiled egg diet possible?

These diets are effective for weight loss and have a low-calorie intake. They can be used to help you lose weight fast, but they won’t work long-term.

It’s a fact that your body needs calories for energy, and by depriving your body of nutrition for an extended time you can damage your body, break your metabolism, and increase your risk for various health conditions.

If you want to lose weight fast, this egg diet is for you.

Although the Boiled Egg diet is simple to follow for weight loss, it should only be followed for two weeks. It is important to drink lots of water during the Boiled egg diet.

Is it safe to eat boiled eggs?

No research has shown that an egg diet is safe and effective. There may be some insight from research on egg consumption in weight-loss programs and the effects of eggs.

All variations of the egg diet have fewer calories. This may lead to weight loss in the short-term. This diet is high-protein and contains some nutrients. evidenceWeight loss can be helped by a high-protein diet.

Eggs are an excellent source of protein. One medium-boiled egg, weighing 44 grams (g), provides around 5.5 g of protein, or about 10–12% of an adult’s daily recommended intake.

Important vitamins and minerals are also found in eggs, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium and folate.

An egg diet is not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. People may find it difficult to adhere to a restrictive diet. They might be able to regain the weight they lost if they go back to their normal diet.

Here’s how to lose 24 lbs in just 2 weeks. This boiled egg diet plan will help you achieve your goals, without the need to exercise or starve.

Boiled Egg Diet – Two Week Menu:

Boiled Egg Diet – FIRST WEEK

MONDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH:2 slices of bread with some fruit
DINNER:A bowl of chicken and salad

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Monday menu

TUESDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH:Green vegetables, chicken and salad
DINNER:2 boiled eggs, one orange, and vegetable salad

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Tuesday menu

WEDNESDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH:Low-fat cheese, 1 slice if bread, 1 tomato
DINNER:Chicken and salad

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Wednesday menu

THURSDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH:Fruit only
DINNER:Chicken and salad

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Thursday menu

FRIDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH:2 eggs and 2 vegetables steamed
DINNER:Fish and salad

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Friday menu

SATURDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH:Fruit only
DINNER:Vegetables and chicken

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Saturday menu

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST:2 boiled eggs, 1 citric fruit
LUNCH: tomato salad, chicken, steamed veggies
DINNER: steamed veggies

Boiled Egg Diet First Week – Sunday menu

Boiled Egg Diet – SECOND WEEK

MONDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs
LUNCH:Chicken and salad
DINNER:Orange, salad, two boiled eggs, and two boiled eggs

Boiled Egg Diet Second Week – Monday menu

TUESDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs
LUNCH:Two boiled eggs and two steamed vegetables
DINNER:Salad and grilled fish

Boiled Egg Diet Second Week – Tuesday menu

WEDNESDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs with fruit
LUNCH:Salad and chicken cooked
DINNER:orange, salad, two boiled eggs, and two boiled eggs

Boiled Egg Diet Second Week – Wednesday menu

THURSDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs with fruit
LUNCH:Two boiled eggs, two steamed vegetables and low-fat cheese
DINNER:Salad and steamed chicken

Boiled Egg Diet Second Week – Thursday menu

FRIDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs with fruit
LUNCH: tuna salad
DINNER:Two boiled eggs and a salad

SATURDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs with fruit
LUNCH:Salad and chicken cooked
DINNER: fruits

Boiled Egg Diet Second Week – Saturday menu

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST:Two boiled eggs
LUNCH AND DINNERSteamed vegetables, steamed chicken

Boiled Egg Diet Second Week – Sunday menu

The diet is particularly low on carbs, so don’t forget to consult your doctor before you start it. It’s easy to follow, and the menu is very simple. You will be amazed at the results if you try it!

Before starting this diet, talk to your doctor.It’s a straightforward menu. But, to get even more results, you should begin. Every day, exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are eggs the best way to lose weight?

Eggs are a good source of protein and should be consumed with other foods. In the short term, an egg diet may result in weight loss. If it isn’t balanced correctly, it won’t be a long-term effective weight loss strategy. After eating eggs only for a while, a person may gain some of the weight that they have lost. So, if you want to lose weight in a healthy way you need to incorporate other sources of food in your diet, such as vegetables, meat, low-fat cheese, etc… your body needs calories for energy.

How much weight can the egg diet help you lose?

Many people claim that they have lost their job. 15–24 pounds (7–11 kg) in 14 days. This boiled egg diet planYou can eat eggs, fruits, and veggies, which is good for your metabolism and fat burning. These results can be incredible, but you have to commit, follow the plan, exercise if you can, and drink more water.

Is the 14-day boiled eggs diet possible?

Because this egg diet planThis includes meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables. It is great for increasing your metabolism and reducing fat. To lose weight, you must include all these foods in your diet. You can also drink more water to achieve amazing results.

What is the egg-diet plan?

The egg diet is a weight-loss program that requires you eat at least one egg per day. This low-calorie, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can help you lose weight quicker than other diets. But it does require commitment.

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What Happens To Your Body When You Eat A Ton Of Sugar https://lazy-girl.net/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-eat-a-ton-of-sugar/ Sat, 25 Mar 2023 22:53:01 +0000 https://lazy-girl.net/?p=2341 As mouth-watering as a sugar-laden sundae or icing-topped cupcake is, we should all know by now that sugar isn’t exactly healthy. In fact, it may be one of the worst things you can eat (that is if you’re trying to live a long, healthy life).

One study from UC San FranciscoSugary drinks such as soda can actually age your body as fast as cigarettes. Sugary drinks can cause weight gain, but there are other ways that sweets can affect your body.

In fact, when you eat a ton of sugar, almost every part of your body feels the strain—and that’s bad news for your health in both the short term and especially the long term.

You can expect an insulin spike and possibly kidney failure if you consume too much sugar.

Sugar is the same as cocaine in that your brain responds to it

Sugar intake can cause a rush of the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine. So does use certain drugsLike cocaine.

Just like a drug. Your body craves more.

“You then become addicted to that feeling, so every time you eat it you want to eat more,” explains Gina Sam, M.D., M.P.H.Director, Gastrointestinal Motility Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital.

To regulate blood sugar, your insulin levels will spike.

“Once you eat glucose, your body releases insulin, a hormone from your pancreas,” Dr. Sam explains. The insulin’s job is to absorb the excess glucose in the blood and stabilize sugar levels.

A little later, you will experience that sugar crash.

When insulin is working, your blood sugar levels drop again. This means you’ve just experienced a sugar rush, and then a drastic drop, leaving you feeling drained.

“That’s the feeling you get when you’ve gone to the buffet and you’ve overdone it, and all you can do is lie on the couch,” explains Kristen F. Gradney, R.D., Director of Nutrition and Metabolic Services Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Sugar intake can actually make you tired. All. The. Time.

Feeling sluggish all the time, or always being hungry or thirsty can all be signs you’ve been binging on a little too much sugar.

“Your body’s physiologic response is to send out enough insulin to deal with all the sugar and that can have a sluggish effect,” Gradney explains.

“Additionally, if you are only eating simple sugars, you will feel hungry and tired because you are not getting enough of the other nutrients to sustain your energy,” like protein and fiber.

You may start to notice you’re putting on some extra weight

It’s simple: Excess sugar equals excessive calories equals extra weight in the form fat.

Not only do high sugar foods pack a ton of calories into a small amount, but they contain almost no fiber or protein—so you often end up eating much more before you feel full. It’s a dangerous cycle.

“If you’re just eating sugar, you may be gaining weight but still feeling hungry,” Gradney says. She adds that you could easily gain a pound over the course of a week from eating one candy bar and one 20-ounce soda (that’s 500 extra calories) each day.

Overeating too much sugar can lead long term to obesity

High-sugar diets account for more than a third of Americans being clinically obese.

Insulin resistance can result from obesity, which increases blood sugar levels, leading to diabetes.

When you’re overweight or obese, your cells can become resistant to the normal effects of insulin (for reasons that aren’t 100 percent understood), and struggle to absorb glucose from the blood to use for energy.

The pancreas kicks into high gear to produce more insulin. But despite the excess insulin trying to do its job, the cells still do not respond and accept the glucose—which ends in excess sugar floating around in your bloodstream, with nowhere else to go.

Prediabetes are those with blood glucose levels that exceed the normal range. When blood sugar levels reach even higher, that’s type 2 diabetes.

Your liver plays an important role when you are trying to metabolize carbohydrates. It takes excess glucose out of your bloodstream and stores it for later.

One of the liver’s functions is regulating blood sugar levels. Your cells use glucose from your blood to generate energy. The excess glucose is taken by your liver and stored in glycogen. The liver releases glucose into your bloodstream when you cells require it later, such as between meals.

Your liver can only store certain amounts of glucose. The rest can build up in the liver as fat.

“If you exceed this amount, it turns into fatty acids and that’s when you get fat deposits in the liver,” Sam explains.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases can result. This is when your liver cells accumulate fatter than you can metabolize.

(Sugar isn’t the sole cause, but glycogen storage is a big contributor, as is any sugar-induced weight gain.) “Fatty liver can develop within a five-year period,”

Gradney explains. It can also happen faster depending on your diet and genetic predispositions to insulin resistance.

If the condition continues, it could eventually lead to liver damage. Your love of soda isn’t really worth that, is it?

Blood sugar-saturated can cause damage to almost every other organ as well as the arteries.

Pumping blood full of sugar through blood vessels can be compared to pumping sludge through tiny pipes. “The pipes will finally get tired. That’s what happens with your vessels,” Gradney explains. So any area relying on small blood vessels can become affected—kidneys, brain, eyes, heart. “It can lead to chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, high blood pressure, and you have an increased risk of stroke if you have high blood pressure.”

It also damages your skin, causing collagen to be broken down and leading to premature aging.

You can make your skin look more youthful by cutting down on sugar, in addition to applying anti-aging serums or SPF.

“The collagen and elastin fibers in the skin are affected by a lot of sugar in the bloodstream,” explains dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D.

Glycation refers to the process by which glucose attaches protein in the body. This includes collagen as well as elastin which are proteins found in connective tissues and responsible for maintaining skin’s smoothness and teaching.

Studies have shownGlycation makes it more difficult for these proteins to heal themselves, leading to wrinkles and other signs that you are getting older.

Your dentist probably said that sugary foods can cause tooth decay.

“The sugar itself doesn’t do any damage, but it sets off a chain of events that can,” explains Jessica Emery, D.M.D., owner of Sugar Fix Dental LoftChicago

“We have bacteria in our mouths that feed on the sugars that we eat; when this takes place it creates acids that can destroy tooth enamel. Once the tooth enamel is weakened, you’re more susceptible to tooth decay.”

If you’re ready to eat less sugar, simply reading nutrition labels is a good way to start. But the basic fact is there’s no “right” amount of sugar you should be consuming.

Added sugar is packed into so many foods that you’d never really think about (case and point: ketchup). “We encourage people to read labels and count grams of sugar,” Gradney says.

According to the Academy, there’s no hard and fast recommendation for daily intake, she adds. A good rule of thumb: “Always choose the option that has the least amount of sugar in it.

If you have juice or soda, choose water.” Choose whole fruits instead of drinking the juice—the sugar content is less concentrated and the fiber helps your body break it down more effectively.

To naturally reduce the sugar content of your meals, choose whole foods. “The more you stay away from processed foods, the better off you’ll be.”

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