Sugar is everywhere. It’s hidden in condiments like ketchup. It’s usually the first, second and/or third ingredient in breakfast cereals. And as if wheat didn’t fluctuate our blood sugar enough (the grain rapidly breaks down to glucose in the bloodstream) sugar can also be an added ingredient to many breads.
“Sugar” is also confusing. It has many forms and names. Corn syrup, barley malt, glucose, fructose, agave, brown rice syrup, turbinado, fruit juice…the list goes on. If you buy a packaged or processed food, it most likely has some for of “sugar” as an added ingredient.
Since the past 50 or so years have been loaded with this white stuff, it’s become “normal” to eat immense amounts of it everyday, throughout the whole day. We’ve shifted away from real foods – including mother nature’s sweet treats – and tend to scarf down convenience foods instead. It’s sad to see modern ailments today centered around poor diets and hectic, stressed-out lifestyles, but we really do have the power to turn our fate around with real, nourishing foods. It takes a small shift in lifestyle, a true commitment to ourselves, our family and our children, but it CAN be done. Planning meals and using modern kitchen technologies to our advantage (hello crockpot and deep freezer) can bring much ease to a week (or more) of meals.
Here are some more reasons to kick the sugar habit, or, at least, back off a bit:
- Gut dysbiosis can result from sugar (from processed foods, artificial sweeteners, flours, etc.) feeding certain bacteria in the intestines, like yeast, creating an abundance of these strains that “overcrowd” other beneficial bacteria. Over time, an imbalance is created and symptoms can start to appear such as brain fog, digestive issues, leaky gut, and more. As Hippocrates famously says, “all disease begins in the gut.”
- Blood sugar instability. When we heavily consume sugar and other foods that break down into glucose – especially when unpaired with quality fat and protein – our pancreas releases insulin. This hormone helps to get glucose into the cells. Over time, insulin can stop responding to the immense amount of work it is doing. Unable to keep up with our intake, our body can become resistant and insulin stops responding properly. Also known as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes can also result. Short term symptoms include hypoglycemia, moodiness, feeling “hangry,” sugar or carb cravings. Besides type 2 diabetes, other long term health issues can also result, including heart disease.
- Sugar feeds cancer cells. Glucose acts as the primary fuel for cancer cells.
- Sugar depletes the body of minerals. For example, Dr. Melvin Page, after studying the work of Dr. Weston A Price and preforming his own research, noted that no tooth cavities were present when the “calcium to phosphorus ratio were in a proportion of 10 to 4 in the blood.” He went on to write off sugar and refined carbohydrates from people’s diets completely, as these substances increase serum calcium levels and draw calcium from the bone tissues.
If you’re interested in learning more about the effects of sugar – and, even more importantly – what nutrient dense foods you SHOULD be consuming regularly *hint: includes fats like lard, beef tallow, butter…* – sign up for one of my RESTART® sugar detox classes. This five week program will educate, support and guide you. It is truly a great way to give yourself a restart this September.
Cheers to good health!
Lauren McConnell, MNT
Lauren is a Master Nutrition Therapist (MNT) with a passion for health, wellness and real, whole foods. Join in on one of her life-changing RESTART® classes! In the meantime, get to know a little bit about her
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