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“Sugar is Sweet” and many desserts look beautiful and inviting. But sugar is known to be toxic and thus dangerous for us.
How dangerous is it?
The New York Times focused attention as well as suggested a new scientific view of the destructive effects of too much sugar in our diets. Of course we’ve known for decades that too much sugar is bad for us. But most of us haven’t been willing to face how bad, nor have we been able to get past the advertisements, social pressure, and habits that keep us eating it...and eat it we do in….in everything
Is sugar really as bad as we are told?
Tom Nikkola, Director of Nutrition and Weight Management at Lifestyle Fitness says : “Actually, It’s worse. If you were to list the effects sugar can have on our metabolism, without knowing it was sugar, you might assume it was some kind of drug or poison.”
What does science tell us that sweets contribute to your health and well being?
These are just a few of the vital facts:
• A strong link to weight gain, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.
• Overproduction of insulin, which causes fat storage and chronic inflammation leading to degenerative disease in virtually every organ of the body.
• Because of the way they are metabolized, too many sweets makes you chronically hungry...even after you’ve already had too many calories.
• Lowers good cholesterol levels and raises triglycerides, two of the most critical markers for heart disease.
• Increases nutrient deficiencies by crowding out more nutritious foods.
• Raises the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy and may affect the developing baby’s ability to manage blood sugar normally.
• Cancer may be initiated or made worse with excess sweets in our diet. (Because cancer thrives on sugar)
We’d all like to eat more sweets without any consequences. But, that just cannot happen as we don’t get to choose the consequences.
Why not just eat sugar in moderation?
Discussing Moderation:
Moderation means extremely different things to different people. A handful of candy in moderation may mean three or four times a day to some, but three or four times a year to others. When “moderation” is used as an excuse, we begin to become delusional.
Another thing that compounds the problem is that each one of us is an individual and, as such, tolerates sugar differently. What severely damages some may not be as serious for others. But because it’s a hidden metabolic process, it only begins revealing itself as a life-and-death threat after we already have been diagnosed with something like diabetes or pre-diabetes.
But, sugar is
“natural”-right?
Let’s discuss natural:
Those that process and sell sugary or high glycemic products use the excuse that sugar is natural. Yet, tobacco is natural. Poison oak is natural. Too many sweets in any of its forms will disturb our metabolism and cause severe blood glucose problems, resulting in many health issues.
“I’m healthy, so it doesn’t matter,” some say. That’s an excuse that simply ignores the cumulative, hidden affects of sugar in our lives. Diabetes comes on quietly and secretly without letting us know it’s just around the corner. A single handful of jellybeans may not matter much, but the habit, consistently done over time, compounded over years it becomes the recipe for disaster.
Social pressure
Those who choose to avoid sweets are often ridiculed as food faddists or worse. Because of peer pressure, many have chosen to rationalize and join in with the crowd, as an excuse to not handle their excessive sweet habits.
Your doctor or your health professionals wouldn’t suggest smoking “in moderation.”
Isn’t it time to rethink sweets “in moderation,” whatever that means to you.
Would you want your surgeon to be moderately honest or moderately skillful?
Action Steps:
1. Find ways to systematically eliminate all but a “moderate amount” of fructose from your life, such as low glycemic fruits.
2. If needed, find a coach to help you learn how to eat properly, just for your unique body type. And eat well and appropriately for you - every day. This could get you on the right track.
3. Use a shopping list, read labels, and never go shopping when you’re hungry.
4. Learn about and use low or no glycemic real sweeteners that will not spike your blood sugar.
For more help on controlling your sugar intake go to: www.squidoo.com/My-Healthy-Weight
“Sugar is Sweet” is not the entire story. Learn what you need to about sugar—then:
Rethink your relationship with sweets.
Set some limits.
Your body as well as those you love will thank you.
(Carmel Aaron lives in Heber Springs, has a degree in biology and has been certified by Proevity in Nutrition and Glycemic Indexing; she operates Anatomy Academy Wellness, where she teaches a Certified Diet Wellness coaching program. New classes starting regularly–Groups? - Ask about Group Discounts-– email Carmel at: AWellnessCoach@Gmail.com)
“Sugar is Sweet” and many desserts look beautiful and inviting. But sugar is known to be toxic and thus dangerous for us.
How dangerous is it?
The New York Times focused attention as well as suggested a new scientific view of the destructive effects of too much sugar in our diets. Of course we’ve known for decades that too much sugar is bad for us. But most of us haven’t been willing to face how bad, nor have we been able to get past the advertisements, social pressure, and habits that keep us eating it...and eat it we do in….in everything
Is sugar really as bad as we are told?
Tom Nikkola, Director of Nutrition and Weight Management at Lifestyle Fitness says : “Actually, It’s worse. If you were to list the effects sugar can have on our metabolism, without knowing it was sugar, you might assume it was some kind of drug or poison.”
What does science tell us that sweets contribute to your health and well being?
These are just a few of the vital facts:
• A strong link to weight gain, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.
• Overproduction of insulin, which causes fat storage and chronic inflammation leading to degenerative disease in virtually every organ of the body.
• Because of the way they are metabolized, too many sweets makes you chronically hungry...even after you’ve already had too many calories.
• Lowers good cholesterol levels and raises triglycerides, two of the most critical markers for heart disease.
• Increases nutrient deficiencies by crowding out more nutritious foods.
• Raises the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy and may affect the developing baby’s ability to manage blood sugar normally.
• Cancer may be initiated or made worse with excess sweets in our diet. (Because cancer thrives on sugar)
We’d all like to eat more sweets without any consequences. But, that just cannot happen as we don’t get to choose the consequences.
Why not just eat sugar in moderation?
Discussing Moderation:
Moderation means extremely different things to different people. A handful of candy in moderation may mean three or four times a day to some, but three or four times a year to others. When “moderation” is used as an excuse, we begin to become delusional.
Another thing that compounds the problem is that each one of us is an individual and, as such, tolerates sugar differently. What severely damages some may not be as serious for others. But because it’s a hidden metabolic process, it only begins revealing itself as a life-and-death threat after we already have been diagnosed with something like diabetes or pre-diabetes.
But, sugar is
“natural”-right?
Let’s discuss natural:
Those that process and sell sugary or high glycemic products use the excuse that sugar is natural. Yet, tobacco is natural. Poison oak is natural. Too many sweets in any of its forms will disturb our metabolism and cause severe blood glucose problems, resulting in many health issues.
“I’m healthy, so it doesn’t matter,” some say. That’s an excuse that simply ignores the cumulative, hidden affects of sugar in our lives. Diabetes comes on quietly and secretly without letting us know it’s just around the corner. A single handful of jellybeans may not matter much, but the habit, consistently done over time, compounded over years it becomes the recipe for disaster.
Social pressure
Those who choose to avoid sweets are often ridiculed as food faddists or worse. Because of peer pressure, many have chosen to rationalize and join in with the crowd, as an excuse to not handle their excessive sweet habits.
Your doctor or your health professionals wouldn’t suggest smoking “in moderation.”
Isn’t it time to rethink sweets “in moderation,” whatever that means to you.
Would you want your surgeon to be moderately honest or moderately skillful?
Action Steps:
1. Find ways to systematically eliminate all but a “moderate amount” of fructose from your life, such as low glycemic fruits.
2. If needed, find a coach to help you learn how to eat properly, just for your unique body type. And eat well and appropriately for you - every day. This could get you on the right track.
3. Use a shopping list, read labels, and never go shopping when you’re hungry.
4. Learn about and use low or no glycemic real sweeteners that will not spike your blood sugar.
For more help on controlling your sugar intake go to: www.squidoo.com/My-Healthy-Weight
“Sugar is Sweet” is not the entire story. Learn what you need to about sugar—then:
Rethink your relationship with sweets.
Set some limits.
Your body as well as those you love will thank you.
(Carmel Aaron lives in Heber Springs, has a degree in biology and has been certified by Proevity in Nutrition and Glycemic Indexing; she operates Anatomy Academy Wellness, where she teaches a Certified Diet Wellness coaching program. New classes starting regularly–Groups? - Ask about Group Discounts-– email Carmel at: AWellnessCoach@Gmail.com)
