by Susan Trost

 

I've known several people who have given up sugar and they rave about the great health improvements they've experienced. I'm sure they are perplexed by the "are you crazy" look I give them. I just can't imagine giving up sugar, especially because I think my body craves it. However, the more I research, the more I'm convinced that giving up sugar is exactly what I need to do (although it hurts my fingers to type those words!).

100 years ago, people ate about 90 pounds of sugar per year. Today, 50% of Americans eat pound per day or 180 pounds of sugar per year. Why the increase? Because sugar is everywhere and carefully disguised. Take a look at the sugar content of your flavored yogurt. Suddenly your health food is not so healthy. Sugar is in most processed foods ranging from pretzels, soft drinks, sports drinks, bologna, baby formula and ketchup.

What would make a diehard sugar addict like me even toy with the idea of greatly reducing, or better yet, giving up my sugar filled ways? These are just a few that really hit a chord with me.

1. Lowers your immunity. Refined sugar cause a significant decrease in white blood cell activity. Brownies caused a 60% decrease in immune function.
2. Feeds cancer. Cancer loves sweets, acidity, and non-oxygenated environments.
3. Feeds candida - hard to treat yeastlike fungal infection in the digestive tract.
4. Ages you! Wrinkles, connective tissue and organ functions are all impacted by Advance Glycoslytic End Products . (Don't need any help with aging!)
5. Weight gain (due to the empty calories). Obesity is epidemic. 100 years ago 3.4% of American's were obese. Today 32% are obese. Obesity rates in children make this generation one of the first predicted to die before their parents.
6. Contributes to the rise in Type 2 Diabetes. 100 years ago, 3 people in 100,000 had diabetes. Today 8,000 people out of 100,000 have it. (Then I would really be looking at my sugar consumption as well as so many other medical complications ... )
7. Addictive.
8. Causes inflammation in the body. (Not good for my arthritis and potential for heart disease.)
9. Increases the risk of osteoporosis by mineral imbalances. (At risk as a thin, white female with a family history).
10. Elevates triglycerides. (Definitely struggle with these.)
11. Makes blood more acidic - you want your body to be more alkaline.
12. Causes hormonal imbalance and more. (Getting to that age where this is more of a concern.)

For a comprehensive 76 Dangers of Sugar article go to http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/20/sugar-dangers.aspx.

Everyone knows that High Fructose Corn Syrup is bad for you. Start reading labels and you will be amazed at all the foods it is in. Get big words out of your food too. If you don't know what the first 4 ingredients are, then don't eat it. Avoid artificial sweeteners as well since they are very dangerous to your health and your waistline.

The typical diet today is made up of 55% "new" foods - cereal, grains, sugar, processed foods, treats, etc. Avoid the center of the supermarket to avoid many of these "new" foods. Most of these foods were created in the last 50 years. Another issue with processed foods is they contain lots of Omega 6s. Many people think all Omegas are good for you, however, Omega 6 is responsible for inflammation in your body.

The costs of disease are staggering financially (Obesity =$ 100 billion. Diabetes = $150 billion. Cancer = $200 billion. Heart disease = $300 billion), but more importantly destroy quality of life too.

So the evidence is overwhelming that I need to greatly reduce or give up sugar and processed foods. I don't intend to do it cold turkey, and unfortunately for my family, I'll have to take them along for the journey. After all, I've inherited the "hide the candy" gene from my mother! I'll share my struggles and successes with this challenge - after I get back from vacation. I'm not that crazy! Follow me on the Healthier You/Heal Yourself Challenge at www.livinghealthiernow.com.