To digest the sugar we eat, the body uses micronutrients from the food, or if these are not provided, it will use its own mineral deposits thus depleting these valuable sources. The main ones include magnesium, calcium, chromium and B vitamins. That is why it is said that sugar is a micronutrient thief!
When we eat, for example, sweet fruit, which in fact are rich in sugars, but at the same time contain a great number of vitamins and minerals, the negative effect of sugar is being neutralised. This is proof of nature’s brilliant design, eating whole real food will not harm you in any way. The problem begins when people try to outsmart nature by over processing nature’s products. So, when we consume soft drinks, dairy products or commercially produced sugar-filled sweets - we can easily cause mineral deficiencies because there are virtually no minerals provided along with the sugar. For example, magnesium is essential to digest these sugar products: for every molecule of sugar, the body needs as much as 54 molecules of magnesium to digest it. In its absence in the consumed food, your body is forced to take it from somewhere else (e.g. bones, teeth, etc.).
It is no secret that magnesium deficiency has been linked to many diseases (which is not surprising, as magnesium participates in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body). We can safely assume that deficiency of other vital micronutrients will also result in disease. I think the advice of Dr Andrew Saul is always applicable: whatever is wrong with you - get rid of the sugar from your diet first! It is worth mentioning that white flours (baked goods, pasta), dairy and processed meat products are a poor source of magnesium.
You will find an abundance of magnesium in various plants: vegetables (mainly leafy greens) and fruit (especially bananas), beans, brown rice, grains and cocoa, seeds as well as nuts and almonds. So if you are not feeling 100% and would like to improve your health, think about removing refined sugar from your diet and increasing your intake of plant-based food.