The Problem with Sugar....
A drug is defined as "any absorbed substance that changes or enhances any physical or psychological function in the body"
The statistics regarding how much sugar Americans consume is startling if not frightening. Only 100 years ago the average intake of sugar per person was one pound per year. Today that number has reached between 150 to 180 lbs of sugar per year! Of course you are saying, “No way, I eat that much sugar!” Well most Americans do and we are getting it from most of our food sources. Regular soda, diet soda, fruit juices, flavored waters, packaged foods and of course all sweet foods and most baked goodies. Then there are the hidden sugars found in salad dressings, breads, peanut butter, potato chips, condiments, etc. Even McDonalds, in its efforts to have “healthy” snacks, puts sugar on the apples!!!! WHAT FOR? Apples have their own natural sugar. It's really nauseating if you ask me.
As much as I personally adore afternoon tea and goodies that come with it... I can admit that I'd like to healthy sugar alternatives used for said goodies... sigh....
There are 120 teaspoons of sugar in one pound, so it's not hard to see how quickly this can add up in the food we eat. A 12 oz. can of soda contains 8 teaspoons of sugar so four 12oz cans of soda contain ¼ pound of sugar. Some people drink a can of soda everyday or indulge in supersize drinks at fast food restaurants. See how easily this adds up? Even diet soda contains very high amounts of sugar and is linked to obesity and diabetes. We’re just talking soda here. We haven’t even mentioned all the other foods that contain these unhealthy amounts of sugar.
Refined sugar actually makes you thirsty. So what do you do? You drink more of that sugary treat! You never actually quench your thirst; you just continue to fill your body with more sugar. Now your body is becoming addicted. Now, because of your addiction, your body suffers tremendously. The body is approximately 70% water - not sugar - and least of all, synthetic processed sugar. So you are doing a complete disservice to your wellbeing by not getting adequate intake of water and instead choosing to binge on sugar over and over again.
Most of us are simply addicted to it and never realize it. At one time I was addicted to sugar so I speak from experience. We get addicted from birth consuming the formulas and other high sugary items fed to babies. Things like cow’s milk with corn syrup, baby food that contains added sugars, fun colored drinks we give to kids, children who eat a breakfast of sweet cereal with sugar, or some cake like item with sweetened juice. We can go on and on with this; you all know what I'm talking about. When we do this to ourselves and our children we are setting into effect the beginning of an addiction to sugar. As with any addiction one has to satisfy the urge of what that addiction brings them. Since we start out early with sugar addictions we don't realize the health and wellness problems associated with consuming such large amounts until we actually take it out of our diets or are forced to do so because of a health issue.
Table sugar originates from the Sugar Cane or Sugar Beet, but what happens to this natural sugar after it undergoes its chemical peel, if you will, is that it leaves us with something else entirely. Similar to what happens with rice, wheat and other grains when they are stripped during processing most, if not all, of the nutritional value of the item is gone. What's interesting about sugar is that after all the stripping what is basically left is a substance; a drug – a substance that alters the physical or physiological functioning of the body (I can't call it a food—since it has no nutrients) that provides empty calories to the body. It has the similar effect of morphine or heroin as it is shot directly into the veins for a chemical high. This is what table sugar does when consumed. It goes straight to the blood stream providing a quick high then causing the inevitable crash leaving you wanting more and more. In addition to that the empty calories that sugar contains, it is the leading cause of weight gain and obesity for many of us. Still for others, of course, is the seemingly inevitable…diabetes; a truly major problem.
Any real campaign to address obesity in this country has to be geared toward limiting the intake of sugar in the diet. Unfortunately, just as other big business goes in this country, the sugar lobbyists have their hand in keeping the truth about the negative effects of sugar from the public ears.
People who consume large amounts of alcohol (and not I'm not just talking about alcoholics) are consuming large amounts of sugar. So what's the big deal? Well, the problems begin when this synthetic substance actually enters the body. Sugar stresses the body's organs; the liver, the kidneys, the adrenals. It contributes to yeast infections, Candida, PMS, stress, inflammation, fatigue, moodiness, erratic behavior, weight gain, insecurities, baldness, attention deficits, tooth decay, allergies, bone loss, cataracts, nerve damage, depression, muscle and joint pains just to name a few.
Of course there may be several other factors contributing to the above symptoms, but trust me sugar is a major culprit in the above scenarios.
Here is a very scary fact about our sugary friend. Are you ready for this? Yeast & most parasites, which are living organisms in most of us, crave sugar!!! This is their food of choice. Please understand that your craving for sugar is due to the yeast and parasites that need it to live as well as any underlying nutritional deficiency that you may have. Let me explain that last point further so you know what is really happening. When we crave certain foods or drinks it means that the brain is seeking, based on our individual programming, a nutrient; whether it be the optimum nutrient or a synthetic off shoot. The brain only knows what we program it to know. We need sugar to live and since the brain is using 25% of the body's glucose it's easy to understand why sugar cravings exist.
Date Sugar is great alternative
The best way to address the issue of the yeast and parasites is to clean your body out so these organisms are eliminated and thus won't cause you to crave sugar.
At around 3pm on most days people have sugar lows and go straight for the simple carbs like cakes, sugary snacks and similar sweets. This is the last thing you should do. Go for an apple instead as it's much better as it will stabilize your blood sugar almost immediately without the low points that are sure to come with consuming the simple processed sugars. Apples are also nutrient rich and fibrous which is helpful in its weight loss abilities.
Excess sugar can also cause the brain to be starved of oxygen. Even though the brains only source of fuel is glucose (the primary form of sugar used by the body) to much processed sugars or synthetic sugars can cause the brain to atrophy (shrink). It will also cause a decline in energy production, the ability to concentrate, think and learn. Which is why children and adults who consume large amounts of sugar from all the processed prepackaged foods and sugary drinks often have a difficult time learning, behaving, concentrating, and retaining information. Their brains are simply being starved of nutrients.
Most people who obviously demonstrate symptoms of sugar addiction will comment, "oh I don't eat that much sugar", but in all reality they do because their diet consist of those sugary drinks, processed foods, foods that come in boxes, plastic bags, cans and fancy wrapping. Trust me sugar is a major ingredient.
We all know that too much sugar can produce diabetic conditions (hyperglycemia) just as too little sugar can produce hypoglycemia. When the body has to work overtime to metabolize sugar; chronic or life threatening sicknesses can arise. Most people are coping with excess sugar as opposed to too little sugar. To further explain, the hormone (insulin) and the adrenal gland hormone (adrenaline) are both used to help sugar metabolize. Energy (glucose) is used when insulin and adrenaline work to metabolize sugar. The more sugar a person consumes results in more sugar (glucose) needed to metabolize it which leads to more sugar in the blood which in turn can lead to diabetic conditions.
Sadly the marketing and public relations campaign behind sugar is so massive that people are being completely mislead about sugar and its new homeboy high fructose corn syrup (more in a future blog).
Kicking the sugar habit is like kicking any addiction; you will have withdrawals and challenges. However, if you start by giving your body a full cleanse that will not only clean up your blood, bringing it and hormone levels back in balance, you will also oust the yeast, Candida, and parasites that are thriving from you sugar intake. I caution you to take a look at your sugar intake and work to reduce it significantly if not all together; except in its natural form such as in fruits or better still complex carbohydrates like; green vegetables, whole grains, lentils, beans, root vegetables and fruits. These complex carbohydrates contain natural sugars as well as fiber and are nutrient dense. If you are diabetic then you will have to limit your intake of natural sugars as well, namely those found in fruits or white potatoes. If you like to juice and good rule of thumb, if you are diabetic or if you want to lose weight, is to juice your vegetables and eat your fruits.
Everyone should begin replacing white sugar with healthier alternatives like raw honey, maple syrup or better still agave and stevia, the latter two having very low glycemic index numbers and are thus safe for diabetics.
Remember it's what you do for yourself today that will show up so clearly tomorrow. Wellness is a choice. You either make it or you don't.
Please send your feedback or your wellness concerns that you'd like me to cover in this weekly column. The goal of this column is to provide information to people of various socioeconomic, cultural and racial backgrounds for the purpose of inspiring people to take action and necessary steps towards the wellness of themselves and the wellness of their families and communities.
Tiffany Newton "Tiffanydenise" is a board certified Naturopath and Holistic Nutritionist.
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