You might be asking, “So, what’s so bad about refined white sugar?”
There are at least 77 research proven reasons why refined white sugar is bad for your body. Here are some of the worst:
- Sugar suppresses the immune system!
- Sugar raises glucose and insulin levels, which lead to insulin resistance and diabetes
- Sugar raises triglycerides and cholesterol levels
- Sugar increases likelihood of and feeds cancer
- Sugar increases inflammation and free radicals in your body(1)
- Sugar, of course, promotes tooth decay
- Sugar contributes to weight gain and obesity
- Sugar feeds on candida(2)
- Sugar causes constipation which then leads to hemorrhoids
- Sugar contributes to vascular and heart disease
- Sugar causes headaches, especially migraines
- Sugar causes depression and foggy thinking
- Sugar depletes the B Vitamins
Are artificial sweeteners harmful to your body?
“Aspartame (NutraSweet) should be avoided as it is highly inflammatory to your body. Splenda has a chlorine group in the ingredients and it should also be avoided. Saccharin is not generally used but still has a few bad effects.”
Are there acceptable sweeteners?
Stevia and Xylitol are acceptable sweeteners derived from plants. However, “Ideal sugar substitutes are fruits. . . [If] you stay off of sugar, your fruit will taste sweeter! [Their sweet taste satisfies the sweet craving.] These sweet tastes do not carry the risks of refined sugar. . . .”
Is there such a thing as an addiction to sugar?
Yes! ”Sugar addiction may be one of the hardest addictions to overcome. We are constantly surrounded by it. It is also part of most social gatherings. Here’s some good advice: The longer you stay off of sugar (including all sweet tastes) the less compelling the cravings become.”
What can you do at parties when all they serve are sugary things?
You could volunteer to bring a dish of something you can eat that is not sugary and share it with others. You could choose to bring a vegetable or a fruit tray. You could bring nutritious whole-grain crackers and a special cheese. Water is tasty with a slice of lemon or lime because you will want to avoid the sugary drinks, especially stay away from the diet sodas.
What snacks are a healthy alternative?
- Raw nuts with or without dried fruit
- Carrot sticks
- Celery with peanut butter or almond butter
- Smoothie with added protein powder or bran for fiber
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Fruits that are lower on the glycemic index table – preferably non-acidic, i.e. lime, lemon, kiwi, apple, berries (antioxidants)
- Wasa crackers with peanut butter
What is the minimum diet requirement for carbohydrates?
“There is no known minimum requirement like there is for protein and fat.” There is no nutritive value to sugar. ”Read the labels to reduce your sugar [or carbohydrate] intake.” If a food label indicates that the food is low or non-fat, it’s a pretty good guess that it’s high in sugar. ” . . . Eat [wholegrain food--a complex carbohydrate does not turn to glucose-blood sugar as quickly as simple carbohydrates i.e. all white food*] with protein, fat, and fiber in order to slow down digestion and absorb the carbs.”
Why is sugar so bad for diabetics?
“. . . high carbohydrate [or sugar] intake is [usually] the cause of insulin resistance [or diabetes]. Sugar raises the blood glucose levels and blood insulin levels, both of which have individual negative impacts on the body.”
Will avoiding sugar help you lose weight?
“[Being] overweight and obese is usually associated with high carbohydrate and sugar intake” which raises the levels of insulin moving your body toward fat production rather than fat burning. ”[When] sugar ingestion [and high amounts of simple carbohydrates--white food*] are decreased, most people experience weight loss.”
What are the other forms of sugar to avoid?
Corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup are two of the worst because they are addicting! Honey is a natural sweetener as is raw cane sugar, turbinado sugar or agave nectar but they should be eaten in very limited quantities because they turn to sugar in your body and they still spike your blood sugar.
What help or support is out there?
A lifestyle coach can guide you on a weekly basis, initially in person, and follow-up visits for weighing and measuring as well as counseling. Also, phone visits with a lifestyle coach can help boost your morale.
We at Healthy Life Institute have lifestyle coaches and they know what you’re going through because they’ve been there, too!
Call Healthy Life Institute (in Utah) for a weight management consultation at 801-358-4777. So, call this number today to schedule your appointment. Or, you can fill in your information in the form below if you would like more information.
Remember this! Your Health is Your Choice!
Endnotes:
(1) Free radicals are high-energy molecules that are missing an electron. These unstable highly reactive molecules are constantly bumping into other molecules and cells looking for an electron donor, but they cause damage around them in the meantime.
Free radicals can be neutralized by a reductant (an electron donor) in combination with an antioxidant, but the best treatment for the damage they do is prevention: reduce the cause of the free radicals rather than treat the effect.
(2) Candida is a yeast infection that is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract. It is kept under control and in proper balance by the friendly bacteria in the colon. When the intestinal bacteria is reduced (most often through the use of antibiotics), it permits the Candida organisms to multiply and morph into more aggressive and toxic forms. the release of the Candida toxin causes both intestinal and generalized symptoms, such as gas, bloating, fatigue, headaches, and brain fog.
What is white flour and sugar good for? Making gingerbread houses as long as you don't eat them!
*White Food i.e. refined, processed white flour, white sugar, white rice, oatmeal, etc. It is best to eat whole foods rather than pre-packaged foods because the refining and processing procedure reduces the nutritional value of the food. Note: You will want to stay away from pre-packaged foods also because of the preservatives contained in them that are either addicting or synthetic (man-made).
Source:
Excerpts: Stan Gardner, M.D., CNS, “10 Frequently Asked Questions about Sugar,” Senior Review Magazine.
