Sugar: It's What for Dinner....and Breakfast and Lunch

February 4th, 2013. From canned vegetables, baby food, bread and even cigarettes, everything we eat today has added sugar and sweeteners.  Most people eat a diet consisting of highly processed foods and sugar is added to make them taste better.  It all starts with the added sugars of baby food and continues into childhood and adulthood when we are introduced to sweetened beverages like "soda" or "pop" and even already sweet juices made from fruit.  When the fruit is made into concentrate, sugar, usually high fructose corn syrup is added.

In 1689 the first sugar refinery was built in New York City.  Soon colonists were sweetening their porridge and other foods with processed sugar and in just ten years individual consumption had reached four pounds per person annually.  America is the largest importer of refined sugar and sweeteners and today Americans consume over 100 pounds per person each year.  In stark contrast to this, Americans consume an average of eight pounds of broccoli in a year.  This over consumption of sugar and sweeteners has lead to an explosion of type two diabetes and hypoglycemia.  One in three children are overweight and even obese.  One in five teens are seeing signs of coronary heart disease by their graduation date.  8.3% of Americans in the southern states have been diagnosed with diabetes and another estimated 7% are undiagnosed.

Type 2 diabetes is the sixth largest cause of death in the United States.  Diabetes not only causes insulin resistance but also leads to blurred vision, erectile dysfunction and pain/numbness in the feet or hands.  Diabetes may make it harder to control your blood pressure and cholesterol. This can also lead to a heart attack, stroke, and other problems.

We are programmed from birth to crave sweet foods.  Sweet treats like cakes and cookies were used for celebrations, rewards and as comfort foods.  So as adults we reach for those cookies, cake, candy bars and sugary sodas to control our moods.  Most people do not realize there are more healthful options to satisfy these cravings.  Long before sugar processing was ever available cravings for sweets were met with roots, oats, grains, tubers and fruit.  These sources of natural sugar contain vitamins, minerals, energy and most importantly fiber.

Processed sugar enters the blood stream quickly.  The body recognizes this as an emergency state and works hard to burn off the sugar quickly leaving you exhausted and reeling from the side effects such as irritability and headaches.  Natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables are bound within the foods fiber.  The body breaks down the sugar and releases the fiber into the blood stream at a slower rate than processed sugars.  This gives you longer lasting energy and fiber will keep you fuller, longer.  So the next time you crave something sweet avoid the vending machine and reach for a piece of sweet fruit like an orange or strawberries.  Your body and mind will thank you for it.
       
Jason C. Venckus
Progressive Complete Health, Inc
Holistic Health Coach/Personal Trainer
www.goproveg.com