Keto Means
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Will eliminating sugar help with belly fat?

There are massive health benefits from cutting back on your sugar intake, one of which is losing stubborn belly fat, says Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, PT, RD, a family and preventive medicine physician at Loma Linda University Health.

Do ketones make your breath smell?
Do ketones make your breath smell?

Keto breath is different from the typical “bad breath” you might experience in the morning or after a skipped brushing session. The ketones present...

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How often should I have a cheat day on keto?
How often should I have a cheat day on keto?

If your goal is calorie control, aim to cheat no more than once or twice a week. But if ketosis is important for your progress, consider cheating...

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Belly fat can be tough to lose, but doctors say cutting out sugar may be one giant step in the right direction. There are massive health benefits from cutting back on your sugar intake, one of which is losing stubborn belly fat, says Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, PT, RD, a family and preventive medicine physician at Loma Linda University Health. Rea says sugar can create an inflammatory response in the body, putting the body in a stressed-out state. “When the body experiences inflammation and stress, the preferred storage site for fat is in and around the belly,” she says. Not only does sugar promote this fat storage, but sugar and refined carbs spike insulin levels in the body, which signals the body to store fat. When we eat refined carbohydrates, they are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, Rea says. When a lot of sugar is added into the bloodstream at one time instead of a slow, steady release that happens when one eats unprocessed plant foods, the pancreas senses the spike in sugar and produces a lot of insulin to manage the sugar spike. “The job of insulin is to move the sugar out of the bloodstream into cells so it doesn’t damage the blood vessels and organs,” Rea says. Rea says it’s essential to be aware of the hidden sugars in foods. It’s hard enough to avoid the sugars we know about, but some go by names that people may not always understand. One of the most overlooked, problematic sugars is high fructose corn syrup, Rea says. Others include cane sugar, cane juice, molasses, raw sugar, turbinado sugar, molasses, malt syrup and date sugar. “Foods like granola bars, ketchup, yogurt or breakfast cereals may also have hidden sugars,” she says. “If you’re not sure if something has sugar, read the labels and look for those lesser-known names of sugar.” When it comes to belly fat, Rea says the goal shouldn’t just be to look good but to live healthier and longer. “Enjoying a healthy lifestyle should be the motivation,” she says. “The best part about a healthy lifestyle is that the benefits will last a lifetime.” Consider a lifestyle visit consultation with one of our Lifestyle Medicine physicians at the Center for Health Promotion. They will work closely with your primary care physician to improve your overall health and wellbeing. Please call the Center for Health Promotion at 909-558-4594 to make your Lifestyle Consultation visit today.

What can I eat all day on keto?
What can I eat all day on keto?

Keto-friendly foods Poultry: chicken and turkey. Fatty fish: salmon, herring, and mackerel. Meat: beef, venison, pork, organ meats, and bison....

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Does tomato juice increase blood sugar?
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Will I live longer if I stop eating sugar?

You may live longer Sugar also increases unhealthy blood fats called triglycerides in the blood, which up risk for heart disease and stroke. In a 2014 study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, those who ate the most added sugar were most likely to die from heart disease than their counterparts who consumed the least.

Health experts weigh in on what happens to your body when you stop eating sugar, from looking younger to losing weight.

The effects of sugar on your body

If the start of your day consists of going to your nearest coffee shop and grabbing a powdered doughnut and an extra sweet coffee, chances are your daily sugar intake could be high. On average, Americans consume 270 calories of added sugars per day, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To put that into perspective, this is about 17 teaspoons of sugar daily⁠—the maximum daily added sugar intake should be no more than 9 teaspoons (150 calories) and 6 teaspoons (100 calories) for men and women, respectively. Too much sugar in your diet can influence your likelihood of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and even heart disease. But this does not mean you cannot have sugar at all. The American Heart Association says it is better to add a small amount of sugar to improve the taste of foods, such as whole-grain cereal, rather than opting for foods that are already highly sweetened. (Find out whether eating too much sugar causes type 2 diabetes.) However, if you’re looking to cut sugar out of your diet, either completely or temporarily, it can lead to noticeable changes in your body and with your mood. We spoke with health experts who weigh in on how not eating sugar can lead to several improvements.

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What is the ideal ketosis level?

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What is a high protein breakfast?

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How can I satisfy my sweet tooth at night?
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