Gimmie Some Sugar...Or Not?

We love it but ohhhh dear is it ever bad for us! Did you know that Americans (and people in many other countries around the world consume on average 100-125 pounds of sugar per year?  That's roughly a quarter of a pound every day. My question is this; "Who doesn't love a big red candy apple or a bag of cotton candy at the state fair? Who doesn't like candy in the movie theater, a ton of syrup on your pancakes, or a sweet treat dessert?" It's impossible to stay away from sugar..It is addictive.  But did you know that it's horrifically unhealthy and will shorten your life? It's bad for your body especially your insides, your outsides, preferably your ass, thighs and anywhere else that cellulite can develop, not to mention your teeth. Sugar has become a staple in our modern diet, but why is sugar bad for your health? Many foods we eat on a regular basis are loaded with sugar. Sometimes you can’t even taste the sugar but it’s still in there. As delicious as sugar-laden foods may taste, the truth is sugar is just bad for your health, especially when you start to overindulge in it.

To break it down for you; the average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week, which is not surprising considering that highly refined sugars in the forms of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are being processed into so many foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and a plethora of microwavable meals. We have known this for decades. It was only in the 1970's that researchers found out that vitamin C.

 So what can we do? Reduce the amount of sugar you eat and you will soon notice a positive change in the way your skin looks. The reason for this is that refined carbohydrates such as white bread and other white flour products, are high in sugar and will cause an inflammation of the skin. This in turn creates high levels of free radicals which attack the collagen that keeps the skin stay firm. Without enough of this collagen, you will start to notice wrinkles.  Sugary foods can also compromise your immune system. 

Research has shown that white blood cells are less efficient at fighting illness when exposed to sugar. A diet high in sugar will also raise your insulin levels quickly which can lead to many other health problems. You’ll also lack energy as a result of these sugar spikes and the drop in blood sugar that follows. This is not good folks. Listen to your body, and take care of it! PAY ATTENTION to your body and what you are consuming!

It’s no secret that obesity and weight-related illnesses are on the rise in many countries and this is directly attributed to our diets and lifestyle. Our bodies simply aren’t able to cope with such high sugar levels and this is why illnesses like diabetes are at an all time high. Cutting the excess sugar out of your diet is one of the best things you can do for your body.In 20 years, it will certainly be thanking you!

Recently, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres declared that she was going on a sugar cleanse, purging her diet of all refined sugars to boost her well-being. Her sugar cleanse diet inspired many viewers to embark on their own sugar smack downs. Is this the latest food fad, or are the sugar naysayers on to something?  Hey...Lets face it,...We're born to like sugar!  Sugar taps into a powerful human preference for sweet taste. Way back, the preference for sugar may have conferred an evolutionary advantage by leading people to seek out ripe fruits, which are sweet and serve as a good source of calories.

It's no wonder that diseases such as obesity and diabetes run rampant.

Cutting back on sweets can help protect you from these serious health conditions and may help you lose weight. Even if you have a sweet tooth, these tips will make it easy to eat healthier.

Understand the Reasons for Cutting Back on Sugar:

1. Learn the new guidelines. The American Heart Association (AHA) recently released guidelines for healthy sugar intake. While the average American is now eating about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, AHA suggests cutting back to 5 for women, 9 for men, and 3 for kids.

2. Avoid empty calories. The population started getting heavier at the same time we began eating increased amounts of refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. It's hard to maintain a healthy weight if soft drinks and donuts are crowding out the broccoli and whole grains.

3. Know the research concerning other health risks. Experts agree that sugar causes tooth decay and contributes to weight problems. These weight problems lead to diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer.

Easy Ways to Reduce Your Sugar Consumption:

1. Avoid soda. For me, this one is almost impossible. Soft drinks are the worst offenders by far. A typical 12-ounce soda contains at least 8 teaspoons of added sugar, which alone is more than the daily recommendation for women and kids. Drink more water.

2. Limit processed foods. Candy, cakes and cookies account for a significant amount of our sugar intake, but so do some foods you might not suspect. Sugar is added to everything from whole wheat bread to peanut butter.

3. Read labels. If the first ingredients listed are added sweeteners like sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, you may want to find something more nutritious to eat. Check the total grams of sugar, but keep in mind that will include both added sugars and the less worrisome naturally occurring sugars.

4. Make healthy substitutions. You can eat delicious meals if you make smart substitutions. Switch to a breakfast cereal that's unsweetened or lightly sweetened. Add a little vanilla extract to plain yogurt and skip the fake raspberry flavors.

5. Prepare more foods from scratch. Using fresh ingredients gives you more control over hidden sugars. Make your own salad dressing with olive oil, vinegar and garlic. It will also taste better and cost less than the sweetened supermarket brands.

6. Proceed gradually. It's easy to get conditioned to sugar. Wean yourself in baby steps. Put half as much sugar in your coffee or switch to a natural product like stevia that has no calories.

7. Prioritize. If you're a woman, figure out how you want to use your recommended 5 teaspoons of sugar a day. The sugar you eliminate from your peanut butter may help enable you to eat a small bowl of ice cream or a couple of cookies after dinner.

8. Reduce portion sizes. Moderation is the key. You can still enjoy your favorite desserts as long as you savor a sliver of cake or a few squares of a deluxe chocolate bar.

9. Address emotional eating. You might sometimes reach for sweets when you're feeling stressed because they help you feel better by boosting your serotonin levels. If emotional eating is an issue for you, seek more constructive ways to relax, like meditating or listening to music.

10. Exercise more. On the other side of the equation, you can afford to eat more if you burn more calories. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise on most days.

Replace the empty calories from sugar with healthier treats and a more nutritious diet. You may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it becomes to reduce the amount of sugar that your body consumes.

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