BioInsights

  Sugar is used in many ways in foods and drinks: it helps preserve them, makes them thicker, and, of course, makes them sweet. Sugar comes in many forms and is found everywhere in nature. Most life forms on Earth need sugar to survive. However, the highly processed and refined sugars we often use today, like table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), are different. These refined sugars don’t occur naturally, except in rare cases like honey. In human history, refined sugar is a recent addition to our diets. Nowadays, sugar is almost everywhere and is estimated to be in 75% of packaged foods. This short article focuses on these refined sugars, mainly sucrose and HFCS, and will refer to them as "sugar," though the term can apply to many types of carbohydrates. Metabolism Sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are quickly absorbed by the body. Sucrose breaks down into glucose and fructose with the help of enzymes. HFCS contains varyin...

  Sleep disorders are conditions that affect the ability to sleep well regularly. Common types include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. These disorders can result in daytime sleepiness, poor performance, mood disturbances, and overall reduced quality of life. Types of Sleep Disorders 1.  Sleep Apnea : Sleep apnea is a condition where a person's breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. There are two main types: Obstructive sleep apnea: This happens when the throat muscles relax too much and block the airway. Central sleep apnea: This occurs when the brain doesn't send the right signals to the muscles that control breathing. Common symptoms include loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, and feeling very tired during the day. Treatments can involve making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and avoiding alcohol. 2.  Insomnia : Insomnia is the most common sleep problem. It means having trouble falling asleep, s...