Tcomeau
Mon, Aug-16-04, 19:18
http://www.reystar-dating.com/health529.htm
Sweet Poison
By Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed.
What is the most common addiction in our society today? Well
you may be surprised to learn that it is sugar. That's right,
those pretty white crystals sitting on most people's kitchen
table. The average American consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar a
day. Not only is it addictive, but this very common everyday
product that is falsely believed to be harmless is responsible
for many health problems we find in our society.
There's a very significant difference between white refined
sugar and naturally occurring complex sugars that are found in
whole foods. In this article we are speaking specifically of
refined white sugar, or its cousins, the other refined sugars,
such as brown sugar, powdered sugar or raw sugar.
White refined sugar is not a food. It is a chemical. It is an
addictive drug. Yes, that's right, an addictive drug and when
you remove it from your diet you can experience withdrawal
symptoms as excruciating and serious as alcohol withdrawal,
including tremors, flu like symptoms, headaches, and mood
swings so intense you would damn near kill for a chocolate
bar. Some say it is as addictive as heroin.
The biochemical make up of white sugar is almost identical to
alcohol, except for one molecule. Refined white sugar is
stripped of any nutritional value and is an empty calorie
food. In addition to that, in order to be metabolized in the
body it has to draw from your vitamin and mineral reserves and
therefore is responsible for depleting mineral and vitamin
levels, which in itself creates numerous health problems.
What is very sad and devastating is that sugar is an
acceptable addiction. It's not uncommon for people to know
they have a sugar addiction and to make a joke of it. It's
not seen as a serious matter, when in reality it is very
serious indeed.
The list of health problems associated with sugar is enormous
and too large to go into completely in one article, but some
of the most common symptoms created are: depression, mood
swings, irritability, depletion of mineral levels,
hyperactivity, anxiety, panic attacks, chromium deficiency,
depletion of the adrenal glands, type II diabetes,
hypoglycemia, candida overgrowth, raised levels of cholesterol
and creates anti-social behavior such as that found in crime
and delinquency.
One of the most important issues that pertains to all of us
living with chronic illness is the impact sugar has on the
immune system. Sugar suppresses the immune system. It
depletes levels of phagocytes (the white blood cells that are
needed for strong immune function and that eat up harmful
bacteria) and this reduces the bodies' ability to fight
infection and disease.
Next to exercise, removing sugar from your diet is probably
one of the most important things you can do for yourself and
your health.
Removing sugar from your diet is not as easy as you think,
because sugar is used as an additive for preservation and to
make things more palatable. So it is basically found in most
commercial foods. Unless you are living a health conscious
life-style and picking your food wisely, sugar is in your
catsup, morning cereal, spaghetti sauce, soup, salad dressing,
peanut butter, pancake syrup, bread, yogurt, you name it and
it probably has sugar in it. They even put sugar in your salt.
You must learn to read labels very carefully to eliminate
sugar from your diet.
Other steps to take to help you kick the sugar habit are as
follows: -Keep sugar and all sugar products out of the house,
so you won't be tempted and give in during times of stress
and hunger. -When you go to a social event, take your own
food, or eat before going. -Use alternative whole foods
snacks such as fruit, dates, whole grain crackers in place of
sweets. -Exercising will reduce cravings -Supplementation
with l-glutamine can reduce cravings. -Get emotional support.
-Keep healthy snacks on hand for when cravings come on. -A
chromium supplement may be helpful. -Be patient and forgiving
of yourself. It will take time to be successful. More than
likely you will fall off the wagon repeatedly. Get back on
and start again.
*****
TC
Sweet Poison
By Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed.
What is the most common addiction in our society today? Well
you may be surprised to learn that it is sugar. That's right,
those pretty white crystals sitting on most people's kitchen
table. The average American consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar a
day. Not only is it addictive, but this very common everyday
product that is falsely believed to be harmless is responsible
for many health problems we find in our society.
There's a very significant difference between white refined
sugar and naturally occurring complex sugars that are found in
whole foods. In this article we are speaking specifically of
refined white sugar, or its cousins, the other refined sugars,
such as brown sugar, powdered sugar or raw sugar.
White refined sugar is not a food. It is a chemical. It is an
addictive drug. Yes, that's right, an addictive drug and when
you remove it from your diet you can experience withdrawal
symptoms as excruciating and serious as alcohol withdrawal,
including tremors, flu like symptoms, headaches, and mood
swings so intense you would damn near kill for a chocolate
bar. Some say it is as addictive as heroin.
The biochemical make up of white sugar is almost identical to
alcohol, except for one molecule. Refined white sugar is
stripped of any nutritional value and is an empty calorie
food. In addition to that, in order to be metabolized in the
body it has to draw from your vitamin and mineral reserves and
therefore is responsible for depleting mineral and vitamin
levels, which in itself creates numerous health problems.
What is very sad and devastating is that sugar is an
acceptable addiction. It's not uncommon for people to know
they have a sugar addiction and to make a joke of it. It's
not seen as a serious matter, when in reality it is very
serious indeed.
The list of health problems associated with sugar is enormous
and too large to go into completely in one article, but some
of the most common symptoms created are: depression, mood
swings, irritability, depletion of mineral levels,
hyperactivity, anxiety, panic attacks, chromium deficiency,
depletion of the adrenal glands, type II diabetes,
hypoglycemia, candida overgrowth, raised levels of cholesterol
and creates anti-social behavior such as that found in crime
and delinquency.
One of the most important issues that pertains to all of us
living with chronic illness is the impact sugar has on the
immune system. Sugar suppresses the immune system. It
depletes levels of phagocytes (the white blood cells that are
needed for strong immune function and that eat up harmful
bacteria) and this reduces the bodies' ability to fight
infection and disease.
Next to exercise, removing sugar from your diet is probably
one of the most important things you can do for yourself and
your health.
Removing sugar from your diet is not as easy as you think,
because sugar is used as an additive for preservation and to
make things more palatable. So it is basically found in most
commercial foods. Unless you are living a health conscious
life-style and picking your food wisely, sugar is in your
catsup, morning cereal, spaghetti sauce, soup, salad dressing,
peanut butter, pancake syrup, bread, yogurt, you name it and
it probably has sugar in it. They even put sugar in your salt.
You must learn to read labels very carefully to eliminate
sugar from your diet.
Other steps to take to help you kick the sugar habit are as
follows: -Keep sugar and all sugar products out of the house,
so you won't be tempted and give in during times of stress
and hunger. -When you go to a social event, take your own
food, or eat before going. -Use alternative whole foods
snacks such as fruit, dates, whole grain crackers in place of
sweets. -Exercising will reduce cravings -Supplementation
with l-glutamine can reduce cravings. -Get emotional support.
-Keep healthy snacks on hand for when cravings come on. -A
chromium supplement may be helpful. -Be patient and forgiving
of yourself. It will take time to be successful. More than
likely you will fall off the wagon repeatedly. Get back on
and start again.
*****
TC