We’re here to talk about the important ones!
Everything has initials. Back in the day, it was people’s names and organizations being shortened for the headlines: JFK, LBJ, GOP, Dems, ABC, NBC, and the like. Today, not only names but locations, words, whole phrases, diseases, and everything else are being reduced to a chain of letters.
And, apparently, even for things people drink – like SSB.
Do you drink SSB?
Do you have CVD?
Well, if you exercise thinking you can mitigate the physical effects of SSB in hopes of not having another MI – you may be sadly mistaken.
Okay – back to complete words.
A newsletter I received from Chris Kresser, which contained a link to a study that looked at the idea of using exercise to offset risk of coronary vascular disease (CVD) brought on by drinking sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs).
In other words, couldn’t the cardioprotective effects of exercise undo the harm of drinking SSBs?
Wouldn’t it be cool to throw back the SSB of your choice – sweet tea/coffee, soft drink, or any drink using sugar or high fructose corn syrup – and then head for the gym to “work it off?”
Longtime foodtalk4you readers probably can guess the answer: no.
To quote the study:
“The underlying biological mechanism by which SSB intake is associated with an increased risk of CVD includes not only their capacity to induce weight gain but also the high amounts of quickly absorbable carbohydrates (i.e., sugar or high-fructose corn syrup), contributing to an increase in blood glucose and insulin levels and thereby glycemic load [13]. This process exacerbates inflammatory biomarkers and overall inflammation, which are linked to atherosclerosis, ultimately leading to risk of CVD.”
When we talk about an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, that includes:
- choosing food/drinks that nourish our whole bodies without causing stress and strain.
- choosing to exercise regularly in ways that promote growth, healing, and circulation.
- choosing to use coping strategies that promote mental balance.
- choosing a personal community that promotes joy, respect, and common values.
Sugar is not our friend. It promotes inflammation on every level.
Yes, we all had our sugar hit over Valentine’s Day, but let sugar be the treat, not the main course or continual source of dietary pleasure.
So, sorry to burst the bubble of those thinking that exercise could rewrite the script of what we put into our bodies on a regular basis. Exercise can do a lot, but we still need to put quality fuel into our engines.
I don’t know about you, but I’m going for a walk.
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In health –
Deidre