Sugar Robs Us Of Ingested Vitamins And Minerals
Author: Marko Balašević
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
High amounts of sugar interfere with the absorption of vitamins C and D, the elements chromium and magnesium, disrupting metabolism and immune function.
Most people are aware that consuming too much sugar and sugar-containing products can lead to elevated glucose (blood sugar), insulin secretion disorders and obesity . Over time, they lead to the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
Unfortunately, a significantly smaller proportion of the population is aware of the fact that excess amounts of sugar in the body not only increase the likelihood of developing chronic diseases, but also lead to eating disorders . Due to the increased glucose, the amount of vitamins and minerals that can pass from the blood into the tissue cells decreases.
One of the first affected nutrients is vital vitamin C . Man is one of the few mammals that is unable to produce the vitamin in their bodies and needs to take it regularly. Both vitamin C and glucose use the same transport mechanisms in the blood. However, when glucose is elevated, it competes for transport with the vitamin, slowing and severely limiting its absorption by tissues and cells in need.
Without enough vitamin C reaching the cells, the body suffers from decreased immune function and suppression of tissue regeneration.
Magnesium is needed by almost every organ in the body. It regulates nerve and muscle functions, helps in the production of protein molecules ( proteins ), DNA, bones and more. However, high blood sugar and insulin lead to accelerated excretion of magnesium in the urine, which allows it to be effective even with optimal intake with food.
The situation is similar with calcium with the difference that it is not only expelled more quickly from the body in the presence of elevated glucose, but also suppresses its absorption by the body.
Chromium is a metal that is present in microscopic amounts in the human body and is involved in the control of blood sugar and nutrient metabolism. However, if the blood sugar is too high, chromium levels drop significantly. This leads to even weaker glucose control and lower glucose tolerance, which leads to energy spikes and drops and creates the preconditions for the development of prediabetes and diabetes.
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