Recent recommendations released by the World Health Organization or the WHO suggests that the average person consumes no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar per day – these new guidelines might seem impossible, but there is hope.
The WHO now recommends that free sugars or added sugars be limited to less than 10 percent of daily calorie intake. This comes to about a maximum of 50 grams of sugar each day.
The kinds of sugar that need limiting can be found on the following list from the Harvard Medical School.
- brown sugar
- corn sweetener
- corn syrup
- fruit juice concentrates
- high-fructose corn syrup
- honey
- invert sugar
- malt sugar
- molasses
- syrup sugar molecules ending in “ose” (dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose).
This has left people scratching their heads, wondering how they will stay within this limit, as the national cancer society finds that, in America, “adult men take in an average of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day”, much more than the suggested 5 teaspoons.
But science shows that it’s better that we do try our best to stay within this recommended limit, as the consequences of overdoing it in the sugar department are pretty severe.
The perils of an off-sugar balance
Maintaining a healthy intake of sugar is crucial for our long-term health, as many people around the world have found out the hard way.
When a person’s sugar balance isn’t right, there are a number of issues that they could potentially face.
Impacted heart health
Too much sugar can have direct and indirect negative effects on the heart. It can cause fat to accumulate around the liver, ultimately leading to a much higher chance of developing diabetes.
On top of that, an uneven sugar balance in the body can cause unhealthy blood pressure and inflammation, paving the way for fatal heart disease.
Weight gain
Sugar is actually a carbohydrate, and overloading on carbs can make your insulin levels rise to a dangerous level. Overloading your body’s sugar balance puts your body in a constant state of high blood sugar which can then lead to uncontrollable weight gain.
Tooth decay
Damage to your pearly whites can happen in no time if your sugar balance is unhealthy.
When sugar comes in contact with our teeth, the molecules of the mouth’s saliva and the sugar combine with one another on the surface of the teeth, welcoming bacteria.
Furthermore, this combination created by saliva and sugar creates plaque, which over time, can eat away at our enamel levels.
Alternative ideas to keep your sugar balance healthy
Many people often feel overwhelmed at the list of harm that too much sugar can do to their body, as cutting it out of our lives or cutting back on consumption seems like such an uphill battle.
But thankfully, today, there are products on the market that can make our transition to a healthier diet a breeze. And the best part is, these products can be easily purchased online for easy integration into our everyday lives.
Essential oils for blood sugar balance
There are new and popular kinds of essential oils on the market today that are helping people manage their blood sugar levels, by adding them to their cup of morning tea, in the place of table sugar or honey.
Adding an aromatic and nutrient-rich essential oil, in place of an additive sugar, is just one idea that you can try in order to find your healthy sugar balance.
Other ways that essential oils and help us live healthier lives
Adding essential oils to your daily routine can be one of the healthiest decisions that you could make.
A daily massage can help reduce stress, making it much easier to avoid our sugar cravings. Massage oils in rich aromatic smells can heighten your senses while naturally relaxing the body and relieving pain.
Another great way to naturally rid our minds of stress and cut out cravings is through aromatherapy. This method of natural relaxation is proven to help calm the body and mind.
In conclusion
Controlling our sugar balance is important, but it’s not always easy. Especially during particularly stressful times and considering the fact that sugar is such a huge part of our modern culture.
Making it a priority to live a healthy lifestyle can be much easier when using the right tools. Essential oils are one such tool that can make the transition to a happy, healthy, sugar-free life, much easier and more enjoyable.