In Western societies, consumption of refined sugar is a daily addiction. From pouring syrup or sugar over pancakes and cereals at breakfast, to heaping it into coffee and tea, the habit continues during the day. Lunch might comprise of a lean steak and salad but what about the sauces? Salad dressings, BBQ sauces, ketchup, chutney - perhaps a soda or two to wash the meal down?
Processed Sugars are often hidden from the unwary consumer - many do not check labels to see if the substance is added. However, is it really so harmful? What exactly does it do to the human body?
Effects of Refined Sugar on Health
It is widely documented that the amount of sugar the average person in Western societies obtains in his or her daily diet contributes to an immune system that is constantly operating below optimum levels.
Since sugar is stripped of all nutrients, the body must 'borrow' the missing vitamins and minerals required to metabolize sugar from its own tissues. Sugar damages health over time. Sugar is the chief culprit in many diseases and degenerative conditions, it creates havoc with the immune system and contributes to diseases such as obesity, tooth decay, damage to the pancreas, premature aging, osteoporosis, hyperactivity in children,autoimmune diseases such as: arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis - this in addition to a plethora of other effects.
Refined Sugar - What do the Doctors Say?
As far back as 1957 in his article published in the Michigan Organic News, Dr. William Coda classified sugar as a poison because it is stripped of life forces, vitamins and minerals. "What is left consists of pure, refined carbohydrates. Incomplete carbohydrate metabolism results in the formation of 'toxic metabolite' such as pyruvic acid...This interferes with the function of a part of the body and is the beginning of degenerative disease". (1)
Most people know that sugar is bad for teeth and rots them. If sugar is doing that to a person's teeth,what is it doing to the rest of the body? In his book "Sugar Blues", William Dufty notes, "Dental researchers have proven that the teeth are subject to the same metabolic processes that affect other organs of the body." (2) In other words, the acid that destroys tooth enamel is the same acid destroying the body.
Sugar should be eliminated from the diet in even small quantities. Avoid refined sugar and food containing hidden processed sugars (read ALL labels). That means eliminating cakes, sweets, candy, chocolates, ice-cream, puddings, milkshakes, muffins, soft drinks.
Stop Cravings with a Sugar Substitute
Replace sugar with sugar substitute such as little raw honey (i.e. unheated and unfiltered - heat can destroy the enzymes, rendering it almost bad as refined sugar), Xylitol, Stevia or raw molasses.
Brown sugar is not significantly better for health than white sugar - brown sugar is simply white granulated sugar with molasses added to it, in some cases dyes and chemicals are added.
More Articles on Diet That may Interest the Reader:
The article Xylitol Chocolate Clusters and Date Squares provides recipes that will satisfy any sweet tooth, but made with healthy sugar substitutes.
Why Diets Make You Fat examines why diets do not work and how to regulate weight and increase energy levels the healthy way.
Another healthy alternative is Stevia - take a look at the article Sugar Substitutes - Recipes using Stevia to find some great sweet treat recipes.
References
- Martin William Coda, "When is Food a Food - and when a Poison?" Michigan Organic News, 1957, p.3
- William Dufty, "Sugar Blues", 1975
Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
Join the Conversation