Ok, so we all know that
Sugar is empty calories (big fat ones at that). But keep reading.
(Blatantly stolen from my LiveJournal!)
Please excuse my me-isms. I am suddenly and passionately focused on this topic, and I need to share. Forgive me if I wander of topic occasionally, I have the assosiation problems my autistic daughter has, I get sidetracked easily.
This is going to be a bug fat post about the evils of sugar. The nice person in me say to skip it if you love you chocolate too much, but the realist in me says that that is exactly the kind of person that needs to read this.
I am fat. I am not massively obese, but I am, and have always been, overweight. This has been exacerbated by pregnancy. I am mediumly active, not athletically so. My father is also overweight, but in a typically male way - all tummy and chicken legs.
Sugar is for sale in the dairy up the road. It's very cheap, and you can do oh so much with it. Last I checked, there was no heroin available there, perhaps it is hidden behind the shield where they keep that evil nasty tobacco... I have absolutely, undoubtedly and undeniably got a sugar addiction. With complete certainty. Perhaps, with alcoholism in the family, it may be a genetic inclination. Perhaps not. Perhaps, with a history of addictive behaviours myself, including drug and alcohol abuse, it may be a personality trait. Perhaps not. For me, at this point in time, it is of no consequence why I crave and indulge in sugar. All that is of current importance is that I stop.
The history and current events surrounding sugar production are another massive story, featuring injustice, slavery, deceit, and hierarchy, which I am not going to delve into today but might in future. Of course, all I know is from other's research, I've never visited a sugar cane field, lol.
Since 2 weeks ago, when I stopped intake of refined sugars, I have narrowed my diet down to veges and fruits, meats, cereals, and nuts. I also do drink some cow milk. Every food I have just listed is available (and sometimes difficult to avoid) with added sugar. Even meat. I would dare to bet that most of the foods not on my list contain added sugar and I will tell you why. I have only excluded foods with added sugars.
"No added sugar" is so difficult to find in processed foods. This has led me to two conclusions, neither of which is particularly ground breaking but I now understand in whole.
A) Processed food is bad for you.
B) Sugar is recognised as an addictive force.
Savory foods with no need for sweetening contain sugar. I used to have a fetish (wrong word :P ) for these delightful skinless frankfurters - even talk of snout and trotters (which as a past vegan horrified and disgusted me entirely) could not put me off. What an amazing surprise, they have added sugar and you know what? I don't want them any more.
Is it possible that the entire food industry is conspiring to keep us addicted to their wares?
Why the hell not... What an incredibly cheap method of maintaining demand.
I have noticed changes in myself.
I lost 2 kilos last week.
My dandruff has vanished. My hair is shiny.
I am drinking lots of water - without resistance, lol.
My skin is better.
I eat when I am hungry. I haven't felt proper hunger for years before this.
I haven't had the sugar lows since the withdrawl period.
My thoughts are clearer (in my head anyway...)
I don't even want sweetened goods, or artificially sweetened goods.
It's not just smidgeons of sugar either. Obviously sugary foods contain insane amounts of sugar. Sweets are just about completely sugar. And sugar hides. It's also known as these names:
Manufacturers sometimes split their sugar sources, meaning sugar is listed towards the end of the ingredients list, even though it might be the most predominant ingredient. Here are some other names:
1. Brown sugar
2. Corn syrup
3. Demerara Sugar
4. Dextrose
5. Free Flowing Brown Sugars
6. Fructose
7. Galactose
8. Glucose
9. High Fructose Corn Syrup
10. Honey
11. Invert Sugar
12. Lactose
13. Malt
14. Maltodextrin
15. Maltose
16. Maple syrup
17. Molasses
18. Muscovado or Barbados Sugar
19. Panocha
20. Powdered or confectioner's sugar
21. Rice Syrup
22. Sucrose
23. Sugar (granulated)
24. Treacle
25. Turbinado sugar
26. Concentrated Fruit Juice
And there are more.
This is a very interesting ( and quick ) read on sugar.
How is it that a substance that can do all this can be not only readily available to everyone, but advertised directly to children?
Here is a list of ways sugar can affect your health: Sugar can suppress the immune system.
Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
Sugar can cause kidney damage.
Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
Sugar can cause copper deficiency.
Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
Sugar can promote tooth decay.
Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
Sugar causes food allergies.
Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
Sugar can cause depression.
Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
Sugar can cause hypertension.
Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.
Source: http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm