The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.

Worse than drugs: how 'harmless' sugar affects our brains

'25.06.2020'

Source: Inosmi.ru

Sugar in large quantities can cause not only dependence (in some cases even stronger than narcotic), but also provoke inflammatory processes in the brain, writes Insomni.ru. This is a translation of an article from the Egyptian edition of Sasapost.

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A high glucose diet is not only a way to increase weight, but our intellectual abilities also suffer. Yes, you may not like sweetened foods and drinks, but that doesn’t mean you don’t eat refined sugar at all, as it is one of the most common ingredients in processed foods. Below we will take a closer look at the negative effects of refined sugar on our brain.

Not the same: refined sugar and “good” sugar

There are many types of sugar, but they all turn into glucose. At the same time, products that contain natural sugar (natural sugar is found in fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains and legumes) are usually rich in other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein, necessary for the body to function properly.

Given that natural sugar for the most part does not harm health, since it is not consumed in excessively large quantities, we focus on refined sugar, which is extracted from cane or sugar beets. This is usually sucrose (composed of fructose and glucose), which is present in cakes, cookies, cereals and sweetened drinks. It is also found in foods that we’re not used to as sweet, such as sauces, low fat milk, or ketchup.

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Although products containing refined sugar are a good source of energy, they are low in nutrients or may be absent altogether, but increase blood glucose levels.

Glucose is important for the brain

Our body needs energy to sustain life. We get it from glucose, which is a simple form of sugar. We know that consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, not to mention tooth damage and overweight. What about our brain? How does sugar affect its performance?

As mentioned above, glucose is the main source of energy for every cell in the body. Since the brain has a huge number of nerve cells, it is the most energy-intensive organ. Its functions such as thinking, memory and the assimilation of information are closely related to the level of glucose in the body, the degree of the brain's ability to use this energy source.

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For example, if there is not enough glucose in it, it interferes with the production of neurotransmitters, and the connection between neurons is broken. In addition, hypoglycemia can lead to the loss of energy necessary for brain function, which leads to impaired attention and cognitive function.

Can increased sugar consumption become addictive?

When we eat, various processes are launched in our body. Our language sends signals to the brain regarding the taste of what we ate. As a result, the intestines and the brain exchange signals, and the latter begins to produce dopamine, known as the hormone of happiness, which makes us feel good. This further convinces us that eating this food is good. Speaking of sugar, the more dopamine your brain releases, the more you tend to increase the amount of food you eat.

The “reward centers” in the brain that are affected by glucose are the same as those stimulated by the use of drugs and alcohol.

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According to a study published in 2018 on the basis of animal experiments, as well as on the basis of data from the health authorities on obesity and food dependence, there is convincing evidence for the presence of so-called sugar dependence. This is a disorder resulting from substance use, according to 5 of the 11 criteria described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Another animal study was conducted, according to which, for some people, sweet food can be more addictive than cocaine, as it sometimes affects the "reward centers" much more strongly than the drug.

The negative effects of sugar on the brain are more dangerous than you can imagine.

Despite the importance of glucose for brain function, as we mentioned above, this energy source can cause serious problems. A study conducted by scientists from the University of California in 2012 revealed a positive relationship between fructose intake and cell aging. In 2009, two groups of scientists from the University of Montreal and Boston College conducted another study. According to its results, a direct relationship was found between excessive ingestion of glucose with memory impairment and cognitive impairment.

In addition, a high-sugar refined diet reduces brain production of a chemical known as brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Without it, our brain cannot create new memories, learn, or memorize anything. The level of brain neurotrophic factor is especially low in people with impaired glucose metabolism, such as diabetics.

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In other words, the consumption of refined sugar always and significantly reduces the production of the neurotrophic factor of the brain. The low content of this chemical in the brain begins to contribute to insulin resistance (metabolic syndrome) and causes type 2 diabetes, as well as concomitant health problems.

According to the results of another study, in connection with the regular ingestion of refined sugar, the brain does not receive satiety signals, which prompts us to eat more and spend all the time in the refrigerator. Scientists have also identified a link between low levels of brain neurotrophic factor, depression and dementia.

Sugar and memory

According to some researchers, the use of sugar in large quantities can cause an inflammatory process in the brain and cause memory impairment. A 2016 study published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research noted inflammation in the hippocampus of mice on a high sugar diet.

However, the good news is that glucose-induced inflammation can be stopped. According to a study published in 2017 by Appetite magazine, memory impairment caused by eating glucose can be avoided by following a low sugar diet.

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In addition, studies published in the Nutrients magazine in 2015 showed that lowering your dietary glucose, taking omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin supplements improves our memory.

The effect of glucose on mood

A study published in the journal Diabetes care found that people with type 2 diabetes reported exacerbating feelings such as sadness and anxiety during a sharp increase in blood sugar.

A second study, published in 2017 in the journal Nature, showed that people who consumed large amounts of refined sugar were 23% more likely to develop mental disorder and depression than others.

These and other studies convincingly demonstrate how most of us do serious harm to our health by eating foods high in sugar. Since our brain is primarily hit, the consumption of refined sugar becomes as dangerous as smoking or alcoholism.

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