The Perils of Sugar—and the Safe Alternatives

Sugar's stronghold

As we roll into Halloween season, be aware of how much sugar your children (and you!) are consuming. Statistics show that the average American consumes 175 pounds of sugar per year or 800 calories per day! This is double the recommended amount for safe health practices. Much of this added sugar is from soft drinks, of which the average American drinks an estimated 56 gallons or 600 cans per year! Besides the harmful quantities of sugar and caffeine, soda also contains harmful additives such as phosphoric acid, which interferes with the body's capacity to absorb calcium as well as neutralizes stomach acids needed for digestion. Fruit juices aren't much better. Although it doesn't contain carbon dioxide and phosphoric acid like soda, fruit juices are still loaded with sugar. If you choose to drink juice be sure to use a juicer or it's fresh squeezed.

The sugar we consume comes in a variety of forms including white sugar (sucrose, aka table sugar), brown sugar, cane sugar, sugar in the raw, molasses, high fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, and honey. It exists in most prepared foods including candy, soda pop, jams, ketchup, baked goods, juice, canned food, packaged foods, and frozen foods. Refined flour, that is, flour that has been stripped of the outer bran, appears in chips, pretzels, muffins, white rice, and pasta and is converted into sugar in the body. Although sugars are safest in their natural, unprocessed forms such as maple syrup, honey, or sugar in the raw, all forms of sugar, especially when consumed in unhealthy quantities, possess similar health risks.

Sugar Causes Energy Spikes

When we eat foods that are high in sugar (glucose), the glucose enters the bloodstream, quickly causing blood sugars to rise. The pancreas responds by secreting insulin, which then causes a surge of sugars to enter the cells that are either to be used as energy or stored as fat for later use. Blood sugars then fall to abnormally low levels. While this is happening, we experience a "sugar rush" of hyperactivity (often seen in children) only to be followed by the "crash," where we experience fatigue, drowsiness, or poor concentration. As blood sugar falls, the body attempts to maintain balance by causing a craving—for more sugar—and the whole process starts again.

Sugar's Long-Term Effects

Besides the energy surge caused by eating sugar, in most cases you are eating empty calories. Refined sugar has very little nutritional value. Weight gain and obesity are common factors of over consumption of sugar because the insulin response triggers the body to store energy as fat. Weight loss becomes difficult as well as restoring the body to normal levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Since sugar can impair the white blood cell function which in turn decreases the body's immune system, you become more vulnerable to disease. Clinical studies have shown a variety of illnesses associated with excess sugar consumption, including:

• Candida/ yeast infections
• Chronic fatigue
• PMS
• Hyperactivity
• Tooth decay/ gum disease
• Anxiety/ depression
• Allergies
• Premature aging
• Diabetes/ hypoglycemia
• Osteoporosis
• Migraine headaches

Sugar Substitutes

There are many sugar substitutes that you may be familiar with already; aspartame (Nutrasweet or Equal), sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and others such as sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, and stevia. But did you know that not all sugar replacements are created equal—as some are artificial chemical sweeteners, while some are naturally derived. The research done on artificial sweeteners is staggering, yet not common knowledge to most people, especially dieters who think they are getting the best of both worlds—having their sweets and losing weight. However, the opposite may be true. Some artificial sweeteners have been shown to not only block food absorption, but leave toxic residue in the body. Additionally they have no nutritional value and can even cause illness and side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and mood swings.

Natural sweeteners include date paste, rice syrup, honey, xylitol, and stevia. These are available at most health food stores and can be found in the sugar section. Most come in different forms that can be easily added to drinks and foods. Stevia is especially delicious with a hot cup of chai and a little almond milk! (Try the "Sweet Leaf" brand) Additionally, stevia may have weight reduction properties and xylitol has been clinically proven to prevent tooth decay. Spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, or cocoa can also add flavor and sweetness to foods.

So watch what goes into your children's baskets at Halloween, read labels to find the hidden sugar in the prepared foods you purchase, and learn how to live naturally sugar-free!

Call Radiance Health Solutions today at 408-213-9599 to get more common sense solutions to eating healthy. We can also help you plan the right detox program to clean your body of stored fats and toxins. Visit us at www.RadianceHealthSolutions.com for more information.

"The bottom line is that sugar upsets the body chemistry and suppresses the immune system. Once the immune system becomes suppressed, the door is opened to infectious and degenerative diseases. The stronger the immune system the easier it is for the body to fight infectious and degenerative diseases."
—Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author "Lick the Sugar Habit"

Call Radiance Health Solutions today at 408-213-9599 to find out how to switch to a raw food diet. We'll offer suggestions as to how to gradually add more raw foods to your diet. We can also help you plan the right detox program for your body. Visit us at www.RadianceHealthSolutions.com for more information.

"You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well."
—Wayne Dyer