Feb 5, 2013

Death By Sugar Addiction

By Luuke Karatas


It seems as though sugar is in everything these days, from ketchup to salsa to soup. It's in everything, I suppose, because we have come to expect it to be.And it's not just the white stuff we need to worry about. "Refined carbohydrates," such as white bread and white flour products, produce the same reaction in our bodies.Researchers have linked sugar consumption to everything from cavities to wrinkly skin, as well as wide range of much more serious health problems.[]

So far, my search for a sugar-free milk has turned up zilch. Even lactose-free milk still has sugar in it! I may take the advice of those who have an opposition to milk and completely phase it out of my diet during this experiment. I will have to find foods with similar nutritional value with which to replace milk (protein, calcium, vitamins A and D).There are many to choose from. Unfortunately, while the options are plenty, the prices are too expensive for my budget.Most cheeses are usually free of sugar because the sugar has been fermented out of the cheese. There are other forms of sugar-free dairy products available, but it almost certain that sugar-free dairy will contain some form of artificial sweetener. Reading labels will be important. I'm not too fond of artificial sweetners, so I may have to do more research on acceptable kinds of dairy during this experiment.

Sugar in wheat bread was a big surprise to me. If you look at regular wheat bread, you might find that it contains high fructose corn syrup in its ingredients. Why in bread? High fructose corn syrup helps to preserve it longer and gives it a better taste, and its addictive.The consequences of eating dozens of pounds of sugar a year are obesity, stress, cardiovascular disease, cancer and death. What's worse is that all this sugar is getting in the way of the messages that the body is trying to send to our brain. Those "I'm full" messages are drowned out by the over consumption of sugar.

Anything that is canned, jarred, bagged, boxed, or stuffed in plastic tubing is processed and contains an insane amount of sugar. Nothing is sacred anymore! Even a cup of my child's breakfast cereal contains 17g of sugar! One cup! Pour some milk on that cereal and the poor child just ingested about 30g of sugar in one meal! That's assuming that the portion size is correct! Most people double-even triple-portion sizes without knowing it which means the amount of sugar consumption doubles or triples as well.

Also look for the types of sugar in the foods that you purchase and limit their consumption. Lactose, sucrose, and high fructose corn syrup, are some of the popular forms of carbs that are broken down to sugar and stored as fat.In Part 2 we learned how to control the spikes in our blood sugar by eating our sugary treats with other food.Get rid of the diet soda in our lives. Ouch! I know that one is difficult for some of you to swallow. You are saying: it satisfies my sweet tooth and doesn't' have any calories and doesn't add to my waistline. No way you believe that it is fueling your sugar cravings.

Indulge in moderation. If you are a chocoholic, treat yourself to a square of fine chocolate at the end of a long day. When the chocolate is quality, you won't feel the need to have more and you'll be more apt to take your time and savor it. When you do indulge in a sugary snack, keep it small, eat it slowly, and eat a bit of protein, too, to help moderate those blood sugar spikes and dips.Dilute the fruit juice. If you or kids love fruit juice, try diluting it gradually to the point where you are just adding a splash to the top of water.Become a sugar detective. You can start by knowing the alternate names for added sugars, often found in ingredients lists. These include any ingredient that ends in the suffix "-ose," including sucrose, dextrose, fructose, lactose, polydextrose, maltose, and galactose. Also, look for the following: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, molasses, carob syrup, turbinado sugar, fruit juice concentrate, brown sugar, cane juice, cane sugar, evaporated cane juice, beet sugar, and sorbitol.

Eating sweets such as cakes, cookies and candy aren't the only way to add a large amount of sugar to your diet. Breads, pastas and snacks made with white flour are processed carbs that turn to sugar in your body. This type of diet can lead to all kinds of illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, digestive problems and even certain cancers. There is also evidence that memory, concentration and focus may be affected.

Carefully measure how much honey you put in your tea and how much sugar you put in your coffee. Aim to put in a bit less each day or each week until you are drinking it either unsweetened or with just a bit of sugar.Buy items that are not sweetened, and add sugar only if you find that you need to. This will help you wean off the sugar gradually.Steer clear of sugars for breakfast. When you start your day with a sugar blast and crash, you may find yourself in a vicious cycle for the remainder of the day. Start your day with healthy lean protein and complex carbs. Try natural whole-grain breads and cereals for breakfast, along with a lowfat protein, such as skim milk, cottage cheese, or yogurt.

Diabetics should consult their physicians. For others, refined sugar is so harmful that it is worth eating "too much" fruit in order to eat less refined sugar.Don't allow your blood sugar to fluctuate. Low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, provokes uncontrollable sugar cravings.Don't skip meals. Eat frequently. Eat enough food. Get enough protein.Healthy exercise that gives you a good appetite will help. However, over-exercising will deplete you and cause hypoglycemia and cravings.Healthy fats, especially unrefined coconut oil, help prevent blood sugar fluctuations. Fats slow the absorption of carbohydrates, increase the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and make you feel full.

Unrefined coconut oil is reputed to help correct hypoglycemia and sugar addiction. Because of the ease with which the body absorbs coconut oil's unique medium chain fatty acids, it is perfect for people who have trouble digesting fat. It is also an excellent healthy fat for vegetarians.Other healthy fats include olive oil, butter, avocados, nuts, and nut butters.Complex carbohydrates also prevent blood sugar swings. They are filling and have a subtle sweetness. These include carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, brown rice, whole grain bread, and other whole grains.White bread and white rice are not complex carbohydrates and will not have the beneficial effects. They will tend to increase cravings.Try superfoods, which are foods with extra nutrition that can correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Those deficiencies are an additional cause of uncontrollable cravings. Examples of superfoods include: superfruits such as acai and mangosteen; wheatgrass juice; seaweed.These techniques help defeat sugar addiction and provide other healthful benefits. Generous nourishment is an enjoyable way to permanently end sugar cravings.




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