Eating Sugar

Eating Sugar

Problem statement

Sugars are a type of simple carbohydrates that occur naturally in foods, drinks, and even fruits. They may, however, been an additive in other cases, depending on how the subject prefers them. Consumption of too much sugar, however, has proven to be a health hazard in recent years. Eating sugars has proven to increase the rates of related problems such as type two diabetes, high blood pressure, low-level brain activity, and even tooth decay. A lot of research has been done on the effects of consumption of additive sugars in areas of increased cholesterol, inflammation, and also reduced insulin resistance. However, little research has been put into realizing the influence of eating sugars on the cause of acne.

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles clog with fat or dead cells. It is a problem that affects most youths. It may lead to inflammations in the skin, which may either be blackheads, whiteheads, or even pimples. These destroy the look of the skin, especially when they appear on the face. They create low self-esteem where an individual feels they are not pretty, or they do not look good as compared to those with smooth and acne-free skin.

This research paper aims to bridge the gap and research on the effect of excessive sugars consumption on acne in ladies. Acne has been there for several years, but people did not pay much attention to it in the past years. However, with the growth of women empowerment and western culture, young girls have seen the need to be free from acne and have flawless skin. This has been influenced a lot with the increase in development in the social media platforms. Nowadays, communications among the youth are through platforms that often require photos and videos as a form of communication. This, therefore, influences young individuals to have smooth skin for the images they post on social media platforms. Acne is seen as a destroyer of the beauty, and a person with acne say pimples or even blackheads is deemed ugly, and one with smooth skin is seen to be beautiful by most people. All the same, we still remember that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, right?

Introduction

This paper aims to discuss the impact that additive and excess sugar have on the development of acne on young ladies. The research seeks to shed light on what acne is, how the amount of sugar that is consumed with people with acne-prone skin affects them, and how this may be controlled. It will also discuss why young ladies are prone to acne and how it impacts on their self-esteem and how they view themselves or are teased due to their condition. The paper will as well discuss how sugar consumption, especially excessive sugar consumption, contributes to the development and stubborn cases of acne. This has been better explained with the aid of an experiment that the researcher carries out on herself. She tries to find out practically how the sugar that she consumes affects her acne and how she can manage it. Lastly, it will discuss how young ladies can reduce their sugar intake and improve the health of their skin and hence scrap off acne and achieve smooth skin and appealing look, which will thus boost their self-esteem. Ladies, in this case, are chosen as the subject because of their affiliation with flawless skin and interest in smooth skin. The ladies are seen to be the best subject in this research because they are more prone to acne and understand the struggle of trying to break free from the bondage of acne-related problems. The paper concludes with advice on how people should watch the amount of sugar that they consume. It explains the advantages of reduced sugar consumption in relation to acne. It also goes ahead to expound on the alternative that people could use to reduce the amount of sugar they consume to achieve healthy skin, mind, and body.

Acne and its implications

Acne is a skin condition that is seen among many individuals regardless of age but is most profound in youth and adolescents. It is a condition where the pores of the skin or the hair follicles are blocked by dead cells or excessive fat, causing the skin to inflame. This condition is found to be a disturbing factor for the youths and especially ladies who hold their looks dearly. Ladies like to look good, and therefore having acne may hinder this goal. This has caused many ladies to resort in using many products to reduce, eliminate, or concealing the acne to look good. For example, we see ladies buying products they believe will minimize acne such as ointments, black soap, or in extreme cases, makeup products that conceal the effects of the acne. In the course of my research, I learned that millions of ladies struggle with acne, and most of them even go to the extent of staying indoors during the day so that they may not be seen. Research shows that most of the acne was mostly due to the changes in hormones in the bodies of adolescents, but other cases were because of an increase in the consumption of sugar, among others.

The research reveals that ladies are mostly affected by cases of acne due to the societal perception of beauty. It shows that ladies in their mid-twenties try their best to eradicate acne and have clear, smooth skin. An interview with a few ladies in the university premises revealed that acne is a disturbing factor among the young ladies, and they spend a lot of money trying to eradicate it. It was also discovered that most of the young individuals did not associate acne with their excessive consumption of sugars. This lead to an experiment carried out by the researcher on the impact that use of excessive additive sugars has on acne.

Experiment

In this experiment, the researcher increased the intake of sugar for a week. This was achieved by the researcher, increasing the number of snacks like cupcakes, sodas, gummy bears, cookies, and candies that they consumed in a day and how often they consumed them. The researcher here did not watch the amount of sugars that they consumed at all. The researcher’s love for sweet and sugary snacks made it easier to carry out the research. After a week, the researcher noted the increase in acne and their increased inflammation. The researcher then subjected themselves to a three-week “torture” as she termed it, of reduced sugar consumption. In these three weeks, the researcher cut down on sugar-filled drinks like sodas, which were her favorite refreshment. This was substituted with water, sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon three times a day. The researcher also decided to take water with mint leaves and cucumber every night before going to bed and took unsweetened tea or coffee for breakfast. Often times, the researcher was tempted to add sugar and would even go without taking the breakfast due to the flat content she was subjected to. In one instance, the researcher attended a function and could not even eat sugar-loaded desserts. The researcher had to take fruits or yogurt instead, and she received criticism among her friends. Snacks were a no go zone for the researcher in this phase, and sometimes a cucumber is what she would take as a snack. It was ridiculous and tasteless, but what could she do? This was a step towards having flawless skin. The researcher even had to get rid of sugar in the house and could not host friends or even relatives in the period so that she would not be tempted to take the sugars or even taste when serving her guests. The experiment reveals the struggles of the researcher during the period of her research.

Results and findings

The results and findings of the experiment are discussed here. In the first week where the researcher blew herself off with sugar, the acne increased, and they were more inflamed and painful. The acne on the face of the researcher multiplied in numbers became more prominent and more painful. The researcher also found that she was fatigued most of the time, had frequent headaches, and was thirsty most of the time. In the three weeks that the researcher struggled without consuming additive sugars, there was a drastic reduction in the acne. The pimples and blackheads reduced in number and size, and they started to clear off. The researcher found that the acne was less painful, and they dried. The researcher also found that her energy levels increased, and she was more active. She was able to focus better, and with the reduced inflammation of her acne, her self-esteem improved, and she was more confident.

Significance of the research

This research has helped to discuss the causes of acne and, more particularly, the impact of eating sugars on acne. It is discovered that the amount of sugars consumed by an individual increase or reduce proneness to acne. Individuals whose skin is prone to acne should reduce their sugar intake to enable them to have smooth skin or eradicate acne. The research shows that besides increasing acne, excessive sugar consumption may also pose other health hazards like type two diabetes, obesity, increased headaches, and fatigue, and it may also cause lower production levels due to reduced focus and general activeness of an individual. This research goes further to explain that individuals should reduce the consumption of additive sugars and instead eat more protein than carbohydrates. Individuals may also take more water and reduce sugar-loaded drinks and foods. Individuals are encouraged to substitute sugar with natural sweeteners.

In conclusion, we note that eating sugar has a significant impact on the health of an individual. It is clear that young individuals, aiming to reduce acne, should reduce the level of sugar they consume. We also realize that added sugars cause a lot more other health problems to an individual, and it is not acne only. This research shows that individuals, especially young ladies, should adopt a sugar-free lifestyle to achieve glowing skin. Reduction of sugar consumption could help young ladies save on the hustle of eradicating acne as well as reduce the cost of facial products that they use trying to conceal acne-related problems.