Increased Hunger and Weight Gain

If you’re eating too much sugar, increased hunger is one of the first symptoms. Sugar may be satisfying to your taste buds, but it doesn’t really fill or satisfy your stomach.

Without healthy fats, protein, and fiber, which most sugary treats and processed snacks lack, the body metabolizes sugar quickly and increases hunger, which can lead to mindless snacking. Also, according to several reviews and a meta-analysis, drinking sugar-sweetened beverages causes weight gain both in adults and children.

But it isn’t just about the extra calories that can increase weight. The gut microbiota, an ecosystem made up of trillions of microorganisms, is your body’s self-defense system. A healthy digestive system helps our metabolism regulate insulin and blood glucose levels and in part, enables your body to manage cholesterol and use lipids. This being said, when you’re eating too much sugar, you’re damaging that ecosystem.

Bad bacteria overgrow, and good bacteria decrease, leading to dysbiosis (an imbalance in the microbiota), which can cause digestive issues as well as problems with metabolism. Plus, sugar may also damage your fat hormones, including leptin, which suppresses hunger. That’s why eating too much sugar makes you want to have more sweets, which makes you more hungry.

Here are 8 Subtle Signs Your Body Says You’re Eating Too Much Sugar.