TL;DR anything ending in “-ose”, as well as syrups and sweeteners, are clear indications of sugar.

This isn’t to say that all sugar is bad; if we believed everything diet culture told us, no one would eat fruit anymore. But if you’re concerned that your sugar intake is a little too high (for example, if you’ve noticed physical or psychological changes that worry you), it’s helpful to know how to spot the signs. And remember: always talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your health or diet.

Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Sugar

How to recognize the signs that your sugar intake is getting out of control? We asked Dr Léla Ahlemann, a specialist in dermatology, phlebology, proctology and nutritional medicine for possible warning signs of too much sugar consumption.

1.You are always hungry

It’s no secret that sugar is high in calories, but there’s another reason why sugar makes us gain weight so quickly. (Which, to be clear, gaining weight isn’t inherently bad: It’s sudden gains that could signal an underlying cause.)

“If you eat too much sugar, you’re constantly hungry,” says Dr. Ahlemann. “The reason is that sugar increases blood sugar level in the short term, but does not have a lasting satiating effect due to the lack of fiber.

2. Acne

“When we eat sugar, not only does insulin increase, but also a hormone in the blood called insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1 for short,” says Dr. Ahlemann. “Together with insulin, this IGF-1 stimulates the sebaceous glands and excessive keratinization at the sebaceous glands, which is why they become clogged and pimples and inflammation can form there.”

3. Mood swings

“The sharp increase in blood glucose levels leads to a release of insulin,” explains Dr. Lela Ahlemann. This is often so strong that the blood sugar level is not lowered to a normal level, but rather below the “baseline”. “You have relative hypoglycemia, and that leads to cravings. In some people, this also leads to mood swings and mood swings.

4. Inflammation and weakened immune system

“Normally, sugar is absorbed by the body via the small intestine,” explains Dr. Ahlemann. “However, if the amount of simple sugars, like glucose and fructose, that we consume exceeds the capacity of our small intestine, that simple sugar ends up in the large intestine.”