Sweet
Conspiracy
By
Robert Ferguson
"The Master Weight-Loss Coach"
Sugar
is everywhere! It is hidden in breads, cereals, sauces, dairy
products, meal replacement bars, shakes, juice and most low-fat
alternatives. Did you know that a single can of soda has 10
to 12 teaspoons of sugar? It is no wonder that we are faced
with the highest incidence ever of Type II diabetes and cardiovascular
disease. Fortunately, through education, exercise and healthier
food choices, these diseases can be preventable. As a wellness
organization, it is our sincere desire to provide you with
the knowledge and awareness of how to decrease the amount
of sugar in your diet to improve your health.
What
is sugar?
Simply speaking, sugar is classified as a carbohydrate, which
is one of the three macronutrients that we need to live. Most
people think of white table sugar when you use the term "sugar."
However, there are six major types of sugar -- fructose, galactose,
glucose, lactose, maltose and sucrose. Because there are so
many types of sugar, more often than not, it helps to do some
detective work if you want to avoid highly refined sugars.
Why? Because sugar can be listed under many different names.
Some of the commonly used names for sugar are as follows:
high-fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup, carbitol, dextrose,
glycerol, honey, molasses, sugar cane, barley malt, dextrose,
raisin juice and monosaccarides.
How
much is too much?
In short, the secret to finding the real content of sugar
is to become a label detective. By taking the time to review
the list of ingredients before purchasing a product, you can
make a healthier choice. As a general rule, if there is only
one or two of the above sugars listed fifth or closer to the
end of the list of ingredients, it's encouraged. If the product
has more than one of the aforementioned sugars, when grouped
together, they would probably come first on the ingredient
list. Many manufacturers list the different sugars separately
to make their product appear more appealing. Another way to
tell the true sugar content of a product is to look for the
grams of sugar under the amount of carbohydrates on the label.
Many companies are now listing the amount of sugar in grams.
If the grams of carbohydrates are close to the grams of sugar
-- buyer beware!
Is
sugar unhealthy?
Other than contributing to cavities, there are many health
risks associated with high levels (more than 10 teaspoons
per day) of sugar. Many types of sugar contain empty calories
-- that means that they are calories with no nutritional value.
Please understand that I am referring to any processed or
refined sugar, not naturally occurring sugars in fruit and
vegetables. When you are releasing body fat the wellness way,
every calorie counts. We recommend you eat to provide your
body with the vital nutrients necessary to function properly.
When you are eating a lot of sugar, your body may draw from
its nutrient reserves. If these reserves are depleted, your
body may be unable to metabolize fatty acids or "fat"
and cholesterol, which would lead to higher cholesterol and
triglycerides in the blood. Drawing from the body's nutrient
reserves could also lead to chromium (which regulates hormones
such as insulin) and magnesium deficiencies. This can put
you at risk for a range of illnesses such as cardiovascular
disease and Type II diabetes. Also, chromium deficiencies
have also been linked to strong sugar cravings. Therefore,
the more sugar you eat, the more sugar you will crave!
Eating
large amounts of refined sugar may also stress your pancreas
and adrenal glands. Your body quickly absorbs refined sugar
in your bloodstream, which causes your pancreas to go into
overdrive to make enough insulin (which carries sugar to your
cells to be metabolized or stored) to normalize your blood
sugar. This may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar which then
signals your adrenal gland to release high levels of cortisol,
(the fight or flight hormone), which puts your body in high
stress mode. When you are eating sugar throughout the day
it keeps this roller coaster going. Many doctors agree that
this cycle may lead to early menopause, diabetes, hypoglycemia
and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Eating
too much sugar can also affect your immune system. Dr. Kenneth
Bock, and expert in nutrition and environmental health with
practices throughout New York, says that two cans of soda
-- which together contain about 20 to 24 teaspoons of sugar,
can reduce the efficiency of white blood cells by 92%. This
affect can last up to five hours after consuming the sugar.
Because white blood cells are a vital part of your immune
system, you have a much better chance of contracting viruses
and are more susceptible to bacterial infections.
Recommendations
There are several ways that you can monitor the sugar in your
diet. We suggest choosing breads like sourdough, rye or Eziekel.
Instead of soda, choose water or pure unsweetened juice. If
you like salad dressing and dairy products, choose low-fat
varieties rather than "non-fat." Many not-fat products
may have less fat, but are loaded with sugar! But, then again,
many low-fat products are packed with trans fatty acids.
Make
a decision today to become aware of unhealthy sugars by becoming
a "Health Detective" and reading labels and increasing
your awareness of the "sugar conspiracy." Beginning
today -- through education, exercise and the implementation
of healthy food choices, you can prevent a number of diseases
and increase the quality of your life.
Send
inquiries to: [email protected]
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