Let’s face it, we all have our addictions. Some are healthy, some, not. But most of us share in one common addiction…..SUGAR!.
I was raised on sugar and processed food, loved Captain Crunch cereal, snack cakes (Tastycake), soda, etc. I ate all of it without thinking twice about what it might do to my health. First because I was young and dumb and also because as a society we just didn’t understand nutrition like we do now. But now we are wiser and older so there are no excuses. We have to get rid of sugar!! This white death (it comes in other colors also) is my #1 food that I insist you eliminate from your diet!
Sugar has many monikers…all bad. Table sugar, sucrose, granulated, brown, raw, maltose, dextrose, fructose, corn sweetener or syrup, honey, malt syrup, the list goes on and on…But the worst is HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP! Sugar also hides behind many other foods that you may not realize: barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, relish, many bottled salad dressings, the list is very long.
We become addicted to sugar because it is a pleasure or comfort food. Research suggests that sugar triggers the release of neurotransmitters that activate the brain’s pleasure pathways. Couple this with the fact that sugar actually tastes good and no wonder we’re addicted.
But sugar is considered an empty calorie because it is devoid of any vitamins or minerals. Consider sugar “lifeless”.
Sugar creates a total imbalance in the body when ingested. First the body goes into a “sugar shock” (a brief energy rush) spiking the release of insulin from the pancreas (working overtime) in order to neutralize the sugar’s effect. Here lies the pathway to Type II Diabetes. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are diverted from organs and systems that need them, in order to alleviate the sugar spike. The result: energy crash and weakened defenses. These defenses can be manifested in a weakening of bones and teeth, impaired organ function, and a dulling of the brain’s functions.
Doesn’t sound pretty does it? So what can we do to eliminate our sugar habit? I’ll try to help with that in the next e-mail. Until then be wise! Try to avoid the white death! Robert