GOING SOUR ON THE SWEETS

We all know that sugar is bad for us, but does our body react to it differently as we age?

- By CAMILLA FOSTER

AS WE grow older, our bodies undergo both subtle and significant changes from a slowing metabolism to fluctuating hormone levels. But how do these shifts affect the way our bodies handle sugar?

Here Rosie Carr, a registered dietitian and head of health coaching at healthy eating platform Second Nature.io, explains how our response to sugar evolves with age, the potential health risks involved, and also shares some helpful, practical advice on how to cut down on sugar.

How does ageing affect blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity?

“Our bodies typically become less efficient at processing sugar as we age,” says Rosie. “The pancreas may become less efficient at releasing insulin (the hormone that manages our blood sugar levels). This means the cells in our muscles and other areas are less responsive to the hormone insulin, so more glucose (sugar) remains in the blood.

“Older bodies have a reduced ability to handle sugar, so the negative effects of high sugar intake are more noticeable.”

Can high sugar intake speed up the ageing process?