Muscle is Medicine, Sugar is Poison.
By Thomas Paloschi
It’s not just about strength or aesthetics muscle is the most protective tissue in the human body.
Loss of muscle is one of the strongest predictors of early death, while maintaining muscle mass lowers the risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and frailty.
Think of muscle as a living organ: it regulates blood sugar, inflammation, hormones, and metabolism.
Building and preserving muscle isn’t optional if you want to live longer and healthier, it’s your best defense against metabolic decline.
On the other hand, sugar consumption acts as a metabolic toxin. It contributes to insulin resistance, obesity, and raises the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders.
A key mechanism behind this is the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) compounds created when excess sugar binds to proteins and fats in the body. AGEs accelerate aging by driving oxidative stress and inflammation.
Over time, they damage tissues and organs, promoting atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, and cognitive decline. Reducing added sugar not only improves metabolic health, but also slows AGE formation, helping lower the risk of age-related diseases and supporting healthier aging.