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Sugar
Sugar is virtually devoid of any key vitamins and minerals. Sugar contains 16 calories per teaspoon but has no B vitamins, chromium, magnesium, zinc or other trace minerals that the body needs to digest and metabolize it. Thus, to fully move the sugar through your digestive system, you body has to take B vitamins and other trace minerals from the food you eat, or from vitamins and minerals that your body is storing for future use. As a result, the sugar essentially robs your body of these beneficial nutrients. . Your body could be using these nutrients for more important purposes such as fighting infections, warding off allergies, or just plain energy. Sugar gums up the immune system. Your immune system is made up of numerous antibodies who act like Pacman and attack foreign invaders. Medical studies have found that antibody production drops after people have as little as 18 grams of sugar, about as much as you'd find in half of a can of regular soda. Sugar interferes with the cells of the immune system. Eating just 3 oz of sugar can result in a 50% reduction of the ability of the white blood cells to gobble up and kill viruses and bacteria for up to five hours. Ingesting sugar can cause a significant rise in triglycerides, cause
kidney damage, reduce helpful high density fats (lipoproteins) and promote
and elevation of the harmful low density fats and all those problems
associated with vitamin deficiencies. People need a calcium-magnesium ration of 10 to 4. Sugar causes the phosphorus and calcium levels to either decrease or increase. If one increases the other decreases and vice versa. Researchers have found that ingesting sugar increases the rate at which we excrete calcium. It pulls the calcium from our bones and tissues. Minerals are essential to many bodily functions. They are important for bones and teeth, helping to maintain the correct acidity of the blood, have specific functions in the transmission of nerve impulse and others are important in the process of digestion.
Be sure to read labels. Sugar is everywhere in sodas, cakes, ice cream, and even salad dressings. The breading of many prepared foods contains sugar. Before salmon is canned, it is often glazed with a sugar solution. Some fast-food restaurants sell poultry that has been injected with a flavorful honey solution. Sugar is used in the processing of luncheon meats, bacon, and canned meats. Sugar if found in such unlikely items as bouillon cubes and dry-roasted nuts. Sugar if found in beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. Sugar is often added to the syrup in canned fruits. Peanut butter and many dry cereals (even corn flakes) contain sugar. Some salt contains sugar. Ketchup contains sugar. Etc. etc. etc. Ask your local fast food restaurant for a list of ingredient in their food. Even the "wholesome" breakfast of eggs, sausage and hash browns contain sugar. Realize that food manufacturers have
wised up to public shunning sugar and are using other names for it There has also been, in the past, statements made about Saccharin and its link to cancer. However, that was recently changed. For more information see Saccharin article. Stevia is an herb, not a sweetener, that gives one the impression of
sweetness. It might work for children and some others. We find the
aftertaste so bad, it drives to cravings for something with a real
sweetener
How do I feel if I'm eating too much sugar? While a sweet treat may temporarily boost your mood, the lift doesn't last. Some people notice a rebound effect and feel a little tired an hour or more after eating something sweet. This slump is especially pronounced in people who are depressed to begin with. It is estimated that up to 30 % of depressed patients show some sensitivity to sugar. Sugar makes your body excrete chromium, and chromium is a mineral that helps your body build calorie-burning lean tissue. Chromium deficiency has been associated with sugar cravings, sugar then depletes you body's supplies of chromium even further. When you eat sweets, you just want to eat more of everything. When you crave something sweet, eat protein. You may have to wean off
sugar like people come off drugs, putting less and less in the foods
commonly consumed. Cakes don’t have to be as sweet as they are. Make
birthday cakes from scratch with half the sweetener. Check an article by the author of "Lick the Sugar Habit" called 144 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health How Sugar Destroys Human Health
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©2000-2013 McVitamins. All Rights Reserved. We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Any suggested nutritional supplementation is not intended to be used instead of standard recognized Medical protocol. It is intended to provide the body with recognized essential nutrients and other nutritional elements believed to benefit tissue building/repair and metabolic function. The information is intended to be used in conjunction with recognized Medical treatment and with the approval of a patient's medical doctor. For any suspected/known illness or health concern, always consult your physician or health care provider. |
