Did you know that eating too much sugar may rob your body of vital nutrients?
Vitamin D especially in the form of fructose may lead to vitamin D depletion. This is because high levels of the enzyme needed to breakdown fructose also degrades vitamin D and decreases the availability of the enzyme needed to create the right form of vitamin D. As a result fructose enhances the breakdown of vitamin D in the kidney and impairs the body´s ability to make it = vitamin D deficiency and potential for increased inflammation.
Calcium
Vitamin D is needed to help with calcium absorption so if levels of vitamin D are low, calcium levels will also be affected. Both fructose and glucose have been shown to increase calcium excretion through the kidneys.
Magnesium
High sugar intake and elevated insulin levels have been shown to increase the excretion of magnesium via the kidneys. Magnesium plays a big role in helping to stabilise blood sugar levels by influencing cellular uptake of glucose and insulin release. So when magnesium levels are low it is harder to maintain blood sugar balance as glucose levels in the blood increase. Magnesium also works hand in hand with Vitamin D, so low levels of both prevent many mechanisms functioning well.
Chromium is a trace mineral that helps regulate blood sugar control. Chromium can help to move glucose (sugar) out of your blood, so that it can be used by your cells for energy, while also keeping the amount of glucose in your blood at a healthy level.
Consuming too much sugar causes chromium to be excreted in urine and chromium deficiency contributes to poor glucose tolerance and higher blood sugar levels. This is because chromium is needed to help bind the glucose to the insulin receptor on the cell membrane.
Chromium is important in general for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein.
Chromium is found in fruits and vegetables and also wholegrains but you can become deficient in chromium if you have been eating a lot of refined carbohydrates; e.g. white bread, white rice, as the chromium is lost when the grain is refined.
Vitamin C
Both glucose and vitamin C have the same transporters to enter the cells so high levels of glucose prevent the body from absorbing the vitamin C as priority goes to moving glucose out of the blood stream. This leads to a reduction in immunity as vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant. The 2 portions of fruit should not be excluded, but ensure you manage excess glucose from other sources.
