IS SUGAR REALLY THE CULPRIT OF OBESITY?

Losing weight can seem like one fad diet after the other, accompanied by extreme workouts that essentially break your spirit and cause you more pain than good. But what if sugar wasn’t the culprit of weight gain and obesity? You’re probably saying the same thing that almost all people have been taught. There’s absolutely no way that sugar isn’t the culprit. It isn’t very pleasant for you. 

While it’s true, sugar isn’t the best thing for you. It’s not the leading culprit to weight gain and obesity. The same is also true of carbs. But before we can get into the real culprit of weight gain and obesity, we need to take a look at sugars and carbs to understand that weight doesn’t typically come from them.

Sugar

Sugar is the sweet-tasting additive used in everything delectable, from cakes to donuts and pies. But what does it do once it goes into your body? After all, you are what you eat. 

Simple sugars, or monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. However, the sugars we’re referring to are considered compound sugars. These sugars, also referred to as disaccharides by researchers around the world, include sucrose, lactose, and maltose—in other words, table sugar. The body takes these compounded sugar varieties and breaks them down into the various simple sugars mentioned above. 

Glucose is a form of sugar that comes from foods you eat. Your body uses this type of sugar for energy. It travels through your bloodstream to your cells. More commonly, this sort of sugar is called blood glucose or blood sugar. It pairs up with insulin to store the energy in the cells for later use. In other words, it’s not the culprit of weight gain. Instead, it’s the exact opposite. It helps you use your energy, thereby expending calories. 

Fructose is a phrase commonly associated with things like high fructose corn syrup. But that’s not its origin. It’s actually the sugar found naturally in fruits and even some vegetables. Much like glucose, it gets absorbed directly into the blood when digestion occurs. What’s its primary function in the body? It not only gives you a boost of energy, but it also creates glycogen, a form of storage for carbohydrates. 

Last but not least, let’s take a look at galactose, which not many individuals know about in comparison to the two other common simple sugars. In the process of digestion, galactose actually goes through the liver to be made into energy. So, whereas the other two varieties go straight to the blood, this form goes through something completely different. However, it still helps with several functions. 

Carbohydrates

No, carbs are not your enemy. You just need to take a longer look at what kind of carbs you’re eating and whether they’re really helping supply your body with the best form of energy. For example, are you eating a donut, a leafy green salad, or even a BLT on some whole-grain bread? For several reasons, the donut can be a disastrous choice, and it’s not because of the sugar or carbs either. 

The Real Reason For Weight Gain

It’s because of the fat. Yes, fats are the culprit in most cases of weight gain and obesity. And I know what you’re thinking. Fats are just as good as carbs and protein, though. While that’s partially true, our bodies tend to need a certain amount of fat to function daily. The amount of fat we’re consuming overall is well over that amount. 

So, what does fat do once it’s in the body? It tends to get into our bloodstream. In doing so, you’re seeing a lot of people dealing with clogged arteries that can cause even worse problems. The thing is, it doesn’t go anywhere. It stays there, and the more fat you eat, the more you clog up your arteries. It’s a reason why many athletes are switching to a plant-based diet. 

This is a triggering topic, and not many will agree. However, there is really not much about our physiology that demands the consumption of dead meat like beef or chicken. Ironically enough, this is where most of our extra fats come from. But where can I get my protein if not from eating meat? The answer is from the same source the animals themselves get it from: plants. 

Fun fact: a cup and a half of lentils have just as much protein if not more than 3oz of chicken breast. But that’s not all; it also has things like fibre, copper, phosphorus, and manganese. These are vitamins and minerals that aren’t usually found in meat. So, really, eating plant-based will help you get vitamins and minerals you’re more than likely lacking. 

Transitioning From Meat To Plant-Based Dieting

While it may be extreme to switch cold turkey completely, it’s not completely necessary to do it that fast. Especially if you’re someone that doesn’t know absolutely everything about essentially becoming a vegetarian. During the switching period, you’re likely going to have bouts of hunger. You can either work through those bouts by yourself or use HCG to assist with the hunger pangs. HCG is commonly found in pregnant women; however, it works for both men and women as a way to reduce hunger pangs widely associated with diet or lifestyle food changes.