teaspoons of added sugar per day for women and no more than ten teaspoons per day for men. The Center for Disease Control reports that the average American eats between 13 and 20 teaspoons a day. Here are some good reasons to get your sugar intake under control.

Lower Blood Pressure

If you eat a lot of added sugar, there is a good chance that you are at more risk for obesity. Gaining weight can cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes your heart and arteries to work harder, which can cause overall damage to your circulatory system. This can eventually lead to stroke, heart disease, heart attacks, artery disease and kidney damage.

for type 2 diabetes by 26%. Excess sugar intake causes high insulin resistance, which means fructose, glucose, and other forms of sugar cannot get into your cells and get trapped in your bloodstream. High blood sugar can lead to pre-diabetes and possibly the threat of actual diabetes.

Also, studies show that added sugars in your diet decrease the activity of the cells that regulate energy and metabolism. These cells are called orexin cells, and when they get turned off, you become sluggish and sleepy. Most of us are too busy to be slowed down, so it’s best to eat foods that give you sustained energy like whole grains and complex carbohydrates.

By reducing your sugar intake, you can increase your general health, energy levels, and possibly avoid serious diseases. You can still eat foods with natural sugars like fruits and vegetables, but it’s best to cut out those foods full of processed sugars. Your body will thank you!

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Red wine has also been shown to prevent breast cancer. This is a truly astounding finding because other alcohol consumption has been shown to increase the risk for breast cancer. The skin and seeds of red grapes contain antioxidants called polyphenols, which reduce estrogen levels while raising testosterone in premenopausal women. Red wine contains a specific kind of polyphenol called resveratrol, and it helps to reduce tumor incidence and inflammation.

Studies show that it helps protect the lining of your blood vessels in your heart. It has also been shown to prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), and prevent blood clots.

can exacerbate depression. The study followed 5,500 light to moderate drinkers of both genders over a seven year period. They found that people who drank two to seven glasses of red wine per week were less prone to depression than non-drinkers.

Scientists believe that because depression and heart disease share similar protective and risk factors, that the antioxidants in red wine have the same beneficial effect for both conditions.

Overall, drinking a small amount of red wine each day may be helpful to your health in the long run. Just be aware of how much you drink and avoid drinking in excess. Also, most experts advise that if you are not a drinker, do not start drinking for the health benefits. Here’s to your health!

Neighbors Emergency Center offers 24 hour care, 365 days a year, and our board certified emergency physicians can treat all medical emergencies. We know you’re time is important, so we will treat you quickly and effectively so you can get back to doing what you love. Our emergency centers are located in the Houston area. If you are looking for a quality emergency room with little to no wait time, come to Neighbors Emergency Center.