SUGAR… THE ENCHANTRESS!

 Sugar… when you see it, your mouth waters. But when it’s present in your blood, it gives you stress — from your skin to your immunity, it affects everything! And yet, this enchantress never fails to entice us.

I used to describe myself as someone with sweet teeth, not just a sweet tooth! For a large part of my life, I was completely in love with her. Little did I know — it wasn’t love, it was a spell!

As I grew older and my metabolism slowed, I decided to put this “love” to the test. Needless to say, I was heartbroken.

Below is an organ-wise list of the effects of high sugar levels…

Brain & Nervous System

• Short term: Causes mental fog, poor concentration, irritability, and mood swings due to rapid glucose spikes and crashes.
• Long term: Leads to insulin resistance in brain cells, contributing to memory decline and increased risk of Alzheimer’s (often called “Type 3 diabetes”).
• Nerves: Chronic high sugar damages small blood vessels supplying nerves, leading to neuropathy — tingling, burning, or numbness in hands and feet.

Eyes

• Excess sugar damages retinal blood vessels (diabetic retinopathy), leading to blurred vision or even blindness.
• Increases risk of cataracts and glaucoma due to oxidative stress and altered lens metabolism.

Heart & Blood Vessels

• Promotes inflammation and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries).
• Raises triglycerides and lowers HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
• Increases blood pressure by stiffening arteries and thickening vessel walls.
• Over time, this raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Lungs

• High sugar causes low-grade inflammation that may reduce lung function.
• Advanced diabetes can alter lung connective tissue, making breathing less efficient.

Liver

• Converts excess sugar into fat (lipogenesis), leading to fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• Chronic overload of fructose (from table sugar and soft drinks) worsens insulin resistance and impairs detoxification functions.

Pancreas

• Constant sugar spikes force the pancreas to secrete more insulin.
• Over time, this leads to beta-cell exhaustion, decreased insulin production, and ultimately Type 2 diabetes.
• May also promote chronic low-grade inflammation within pancreatic tissue.

Muscles

• Initially store glucose as glycogen, but chronic high sugar makes them insulin-resistant.
• Results in poor glucose uptake and fatigue even when blood sugar is high.

Kidneys

• Excess sugar spills into urine (glycosuria), drawing water out and causing dehydration and frequent urination.
• Damages delicate kidney filters (nephrons), leading to diabetic nephropathy — protein in urine and eventual kidney failure.

Digestive System

• Alters gut microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria and promoting sugar-loving yeasts (like Candida).
• May cause bloating, sluggish digestion, and chronic inflammation in gut lining.

Mouth & Teeth

• Sugar fuels bacteria that produce acids, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
• Chronic high sugar weakens gum tissue repair.

Hormonal & Reproductive Systems

• Sugar spikes disrupt insulin, cortisol, and sex hormone balance.
• In women: may worsen PCOS and endometriosis by increasing insulin and inflammation.
• In men: may lower testosterone and sperm quality.
• Alters leptin and ghrelin (hunger hormones), promoting overeating.

Skin

• Sugar binds to collagen and elastin through glycation, causing premature aging, wrinkles, and poor wound healing.
• Can worsen acne by raising insulin and androgen levels.

Bones & Joints

• Excess sugar increases calcium excretion through urine, weakening bones.
• Promotes inflammation in joints and may worsen arthritis.

Immune System

• High blood sugar suppresses white blood cell activity, weakening immunity.
• Increases susceptibility to infections (skin, urinary tract, respiratory).

 If you have reached here reading all the side effects of ‘love’, I am sure you must be wondering, why are we so madly in love with this enchantress???

 Below are some logical reasons for our ‘unconditional love for this enchantress…’

Biological seduction :

Evolutionary wiring – Our ancestors used naturally sweet sources like fruits, pure honey for survival. Slowly we connected sweetness with survival and failed miserably as it backfires in the world overflowing with refined sugar!

Dopamine rush – When sugar hits the tongue, the reward center in brain gets triggered. This leads to release in Dopamine, the same neurotransmitter which is linked to love, excitement & addiction. Over a period of time, brain starts to crave the dopamine hit, not sugar itself, forming an addictive feedback loop.

Serotonin & Endorphin rush – Sugar boosts the release of Serotonins and Endorphins temporarily giving a sense of calm, comfort and happiness like a warm hug. It actually calms the nervous system, but temporarily.

The psychological trap :

Emotional support – Since childhood sweet taste is associated with happiness, celebrations and rewards at the times of birthdays, festivities and good grades. It has created immense psychological impact on us. So even in grownups it creates the same emotion of warmth and nostalgia when sweets present themselves in front of them.

Stress relief trap – When a person is in stress, body releases Cortisol, the stress hormone and brain needs more energy to act. Sugar gives that temporary energy boost reducing Cortisol levels only temporarily leading to fatigue and sugar crash in long run.

Social acceptance – Sweets are central to bonding. Almost all festivities and celebrations sweets are shared to strengthen the bond.

The chemical manipulation:

Blood sugar rollercoaster – When we ingest sugar, it gives us a sense of energy and alertness. Slowly Insulin plays its part and sugar level crashes leaving the person more lethargic and fatigued. The brain misreads it as need for more sugar and the cycle continues.

Altered taste perception – More and more sugar intake for a long time dulls the taste buds. The natural sweetness of fruits etc. seems bland. You need more sweetness and sugar to feel same level of sweetness.

Role of food industries :

Exploitation – Food companies exploits our weakness for sweets by adding sugar to almost every food item we consume. This leads people to eat more. The combination of fat, sugar and salt makes it irresistible.

Marketing gimmicks – Bombardment of words like ‘celebrations’, ‘love’, ‘energy’, ‘comfort’ makes sugar a symbol for happiness than just an ingredient.

Emotional irony :

Modern paradox – What once was important for survival, now quietly enslaves their taste buds, hormones & moods.

Sugar seduces with sweetness but leaves behind fatigue, cravings, inflammation, and dependence and yet its charm endures because sugar doesn’t just tastes sweet, it feels like love!

“This post before Diwali isn’t a warning against the enchantress you adore — it’s a whisper to help you recognize her sweet spell.”

© Dr. Sonal Wagh Varma

Homoeopath | Pain management consultant | EFT practitioner |Reiki healer |Akashic healer