Dangers of Refined Sugar
Simply put, sugar is one of your body’s worse enemies! Refined white sugar is in almost everything we eat. In just one can of soda there are 12 teaspoons of sugar. Sugar is in the loaf of bread we buy, that great jar of pasta sauce and even in our toothpaste. Since sugar is such a popular ingredient, it’s no wonder that the average American consumes over 70 pounds of sugar every year! What’s wrong with this you might ask? During the refining and bleaching processes, sugar is stripped of all nutrients. The absence of these nutrients makes sugar a dangerous incomplete food, which your body cannot properly metabolize. That’s why we get a "rush" when we eat sugar. Although many of us see this rush as an energy boost, in reality the rush is our body’s reaction to crisis. The stomach is paralyzed until acids are mobilized to neutralize the effects of the sugar. The body’s natural production of stomach acids is counteracted by an emergency mobilization of its stored minerals. In other words, the body begins to take nutrients (mainly minerals) from itself to digest the sugar. Minerals are taken from the heart, kidneys, liver and nervous system causing these vital organs to work harder and less efficiently, and over time, making them vulnerable to malfunction and disease. . Over the years, excess sugar ingestion may permanently impact your body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels. This inability to properly regulate blood sugar levels causes high blood sugar or diabetes. Eating too much sugar has also been linked to diseases such as depression, rheumatism, ADD, mental illness and other inflammatory conditions. Additionally, excess sugar can cause fatigue and make it difficult to think clearly. There are alternatives that will satisfy our sweet tooth. Natural sugars obtained from fruit, grains and vegetables. Natural sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream gradually and do not upset the balance between high and low blood sugar levels. Natural sweeteners include honey, black strap molasses, pure maple syrup, fruit juice, barley malt, raisins, dates and even raw cane sugar. Natural sugar contains the vitamins and minerals the body needs to metabolize sugar without crisis. Refined sugar is addicting. Sugar is so addicting and so harmful to the body that some experts think sugar should be called a drug, not a food. You will see how difficult this is to do. When you begin craving sugar, eat a piece of raw fruit. Raisins are mother nature's gummy bears. You will see how easily fruit can satisfy your desire for something sweet. . . Sweets and Natural Sweeteners Cravings for sweets can be satisfied with fresh fruit. Most fresh fruit is sweet and easy to digest. Other sugar alternatives include many whole food sweeteners such as honey, molasses, maple syrup, fruit juice or barely malt. All sugars should be used in moderation. Weber, Mercea, Naturally Sweet Desserts, Avery Publishing, New York, 1990. Jordan, Surina, Start Living Recipes, bodyTemple Publishing, Baltimore, 2004. Balch, James F. Balch, Phyllis, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Avery, New York, edition 3. Copyright 2004 Surina Ann Jordan |
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