Sugar is Not Fit for Human Consumption

Below is a list of health issues that are linked to the consumption of refined sugar.  There are loads more: I just chose the ones that I've experienced or know others to have.  I'm in no way saying that these conditions are strictly caused by sugar, but if you experience any of these things or know anyone who does, it may at least be worth considering sugar as a culprit.  www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/sugar_addiction.html.

Cancer Obesity Premature Aging

Heart Disease Weight Gain Arthritis

Depression Chrohn's Disease  Learning disorders  

Hemorrhoids    Varicose Veins Diabetes

Osteoporosis Food Allergies Eczema

Alzheimer's Gout Headaches and Migraines

Tooth Decay Bowel Movement Problems

Refined sugar is poison to our bodies.  Our bodies were not designed to processed refined sugar but it struggles to do so, wearing out as it does.  Conditions like the ones above may then develop.  Sugar is toxic.  To get more information on the dangers of sugar, including history and studies done, check out www.ghchealth.com/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all.html

So why aren't we all jumping on the bandwagon and doing something about this horrible thing called sugar?  I've thought long and hard about it and this is what I've come up with. We all fall into one of three categories. 

Category 1 - Ignorance is Bliss

Category 2 - If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Category 3 - You Are What Your Eat

Most of us progress between all three categories at some time in our lives.  But many of us don't.  We continue blindly, never making the connection between what we feed our bodies and how we feel and look.

My mother is a prime example of being stuck. She remains forever in category 1.  Although she is quite broken, diet is never considered as a culprit.  She believes in her doctor's advice that a magic pill will fix what ails her.  Her medicine cabinet is filled with prescriptions for this and that, and then more prescriptions to fix the side effects created from the first prescriptions.  

I question what is normal, age related aches and pains and what is nutrition-deprivation induced. Maybe Arthritis is something many of us will face when we get older, but do we really have to?  And to what degree?  Could the severe degeneration of bone in Mom's neck and lower back be a result of her body's struggle to process refined sugar, pulling vital minerals from her bones in an attempt to do so?  I believe, deep in my soul, that if she were to make changes in her diet, particularly reducing her sugar intake, she would not have to live in so much pain and discomfort.  I am not a doctor, so my sugar ideas are not taken seriously by Mom.  She shows polite interest when I share my findings and feelings on sugar with her and how it may be contributing to her poor health but until her doctors stop talking "prescription" and start talking "nutrition", Mom will continue to pop the pills prescribed her.  On a side note, her health continues to deteriorate.  

 

I would like to identify one doctor in every major U.S. city that considers nutrition when evaluating a patient.  I am hopeful they are out there, they must be, and I would like to compile a list of them for all to see and hopefully turn to.  Send me their name and number if you know one!

 

Doctors ask me if I drink alcohol and how much, they ask me if I smoke, and some even ask if I wear my seat belt when in a car, but I have yet to be asked how many sodas I drink each day.  As much as I'd like to lose 10 pounds, I still fall in a normal weight range so my diet is never considered when I discuss my chronic constipation.  It could be Irritable Bowl Syndrome, so I'm given a pill.  If the constipation persists, I get a barium enema.  The only nutritional advice I get is to eat more fiber but when I do my constipation is compounded with horrible bloating, discomfort, and awful, stinky, loud, highly embarrassing gas.  Funny thing though, I went on a sugar fast (which meant much of what I ate was highly fibrous) because I had read that reducing my sugar intake could possibly reduce my under-eye puffiness.  Guess what?  It does... and it also helps to relieve constipation.  Problem solved.  My doctor was half right anyway.

 

Sugar is addictive.  I read (and believe) that it is as difficult to break a sugar addiction as it is to break a nicotine addiction.  Sugar manifests itself in each of us in a variety of ways.  For me it's constipation, under-eye bags, sluggishness, insomnia, and an increasing waistline, to name a few.  I'm hopeful that due to my attempt to control my sugar consumption I won't be subject in the future to the same pain and suffering as my Mother.  And hopefully I'll never be faced with larger issues like cancer and heart disease.  Fingers crossed.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, in 1973 the average annual consumption of sugar, per person was 125 pounds.  I've seen reports that claim it to be up to 160 pounds per year per person now.  In 1821 it was 10 pounds.  But for some reason, we can't seem to believe that little ole' wonderful sugar is to blame for the rise in obesity, childhood behavioral problems, and the plethora of other medical issues we experience.  It's too sweet to cause such bitter problems!

Our food and drink have been laced with a very addictive, toxic, but legal ingredient.  We wanted convenience and we wanted it to taste good; hence processed foods with lots of sugar in them.  Lets be honest, sugar makes things taste so good, so we've added lots of it to everything.  Admit it, you're a sugar addict and hopefully you will do something about it before your body gives up it's fight to process the poison inside it.  For me it was vanity that helped me to see the light.  I have to admit, I've only made it two weeks without sugar before falling off the wagon, but I remember the feeling and effects fondly.  I keep trying though.  I'm not off sugar yet and don't know if I will ever be completely free of it's grips, but I am aware of how it affects me and I strive to make good, healthy food choices in the hope that one day I can control the beast instead of it controlling me.  It's going to be a long, hard process, but as we all know, nothing worthwhile is ever easy.  Try going without refined sugar for 24 hours (make sure you eat something every two to three hours to help your body avoid a big sugar withdrawal).  If you can make it, try to go another 24 hours, then another -  and please let me know how you fare.  I saw results (reduction of under eye bags) in 24 hours but the real benefits began kicking in after about three days.  I would love to know how you feel.  Did you have a terrible time of it and fall into a deep sugar withdrawal?  Or did you find that you zoomed  through the day without your usual 3 p.m. slump?  Let me know!  Keep the sugar fast going and I'd bet you are amazed at how good you can feel!

It's the beginning of 2009 and maybe your resolution to lose weight, get more done, or live a healthier lifestyle will prompt you to consider how much sugar you consume (read labels!  It's everywhere!).  I think the first steps in breaking the sugar addiction is to be aware of what you eat and how it makes you feel.  Then admit you are an addict.  If you don't believe me, try going without refined sugar for two weeks.  I dare you.  No, I double dog dare you.

Sugar is as Addictive as Cocaine

In December 2007 I went on a 24-hour sugar fast because I read somewhere that it might help reduce under-eye puffiness.  Not only did I have under-eye bags, but they carried around their own purses as well!  Well, it worked - or at least I convinced myself that they were a bit smaller.  I was excited about the results so I continued restricting my sugar intake. I still ate fruits and natural sugars, just no refined sugars.  This included no breads or flour products of any kind.  After two weeks my under-eye bags were minimal (I'm 44 and I think I have some hereditary bagginess going on too), but other things happened to me as well.  I lost four pounds, I wasn't tired mid-day, and I went to the bathroom regularly.  I felt and (thought I) looked great!

Unfortunately, my sugar-free period lasted only two weeks.  I indulged in some holiday fudge, then cookies, then pie, and things quickly got out of control.  My bags, purses, weight, and tiredness all came back.  With such positive, immediate results, I've tried hard this past year to control my sugar intake but it is so easy to fall off the wagon.   My husband told me that he read somewhere that sugar is as addictive as cocaine!  Just put "sugar addiction" in your search engine and see what comes up.  Or check out the sites I have listed under the title of this blog.  

This is what I think (no medical training behind these opinions):  Sugar is a cause of weight gain and obesity.  We eat sugar because it tastes good - it's not only in the obvious things like cookies and cakes, but it's in processed foods as well (that's how come they are so yummy - read labels - I believe 4 grams of sugar is the equivalent of one teaspoon) - there are 28 to 31 grams (almost 8 teaspoons) of sugar in some yogurts!  I've also read that our body turns other foods (white breads and rice) into sugar.  All this processed sugar then creates a chemical reaction in our bodies that causes us to crave more of the same.  Because these types of food have little to no nutritional value (empty calories), our bodies aren't satisfied, so we eat more... of the same.  Now we're hungry for all the wrong things, eat tons of it, and have no energy to boot - we can't exercise even if we wanted to.  Vicious cycle.

Sugar is also the reason I feel diets don't work.  When we diet, we continue to eat what we have been eating, only in smaller amounts  because we are suppose to reduce calories, right?  But the chemical reactions in our bodies, the addiction, is too strong, causing us to break, and then we binge.  We can't lose weight and keep it off when we are just reducing calories and not considering the kinds of food we eat.  When I eat REAL food (vegys, fruit, lean proteins, nuts, boiled eggs, etc.), I'm not always hungry and I have energy!   And I believe I looked better as well.

Although I feel very strongly about the importance of reducing or eliminating sugar from my diet, I have not been able to break the sugar addiction.  I keep trying though.  Maybe this year I'll make it three weeks without refined sugar.  I've told a few people my thoughts on sugar and for the most part I get, "oh, I couldn't give up _____" (iced coffees, candy bars, bread, pasta... you can fill in the blank), and the conversation is abruptly ended.  They would prefer to gripe about their weight or lack of energy than to even consider trying to cut the sugar.  I think there is enough information out there about the dangers of sugar so it is curious to me that more people don't know of them and even worse, don't even want to.  Guess this is addiction at it's finest.  What do you think?  Is sugar really the devil?  Are you an addict?  How can the sugar addiction be broken?  And more so, does it really need to be?