Sweet Poison
Do you know what
our most common
addiction is in
today's society? Well you
may be surprised
to learn that it
is sugar. That's
right, those
pretty white
crystals sitting
on most people's
kitchen table.
The average
American
consumes 32
teaspoons of
sugar a day. Not
only is it
addictive, but
this very common
everyday product
that is falsely
believed to be
harmless is
responsible for
many health
problems we find
in our society.
There's a very
significant
difference
between white
refined sugar
and naturally
occurring
complex sugars
that are found
in whole foods.
In this article
we are speaking
specifically of
refined white
sugar, or its
cousins, the
other refined
sugars, such as
brown sugar,
powdered sugar
or raw sugar.
White refined
sugar is not a
food. It is a
chemical. It is
an addictive
drug. Yes,
that's right, an
addictive drug
and when you
remove it from
your diet you
can experience
withdrawal
symptoms as
excruciating and
serious as
alcohol
withdrawal,
including
tremors, flu
like symptoms,
headaches, and
mood swings so
intense you
would damn near
kill for a
chocolate bar.
Some say it is
as addictive as
heroin.
The biochemical
make up of white
sugar is almost
identical to
alcohol, except
for one
molecule.
Refined white
sugar is
stripped of any
nutritional
value and is an
empty calorie
food. In
addition to
that, in order
to be
metabolized in
the body it has
to draw from
your vitamin and
mineral reserves
and therefore is
responsible for
depleting
mineral and
vitamin levels,
which in itself
creates numerous
health problems.
What is very sad
and devastating
is that sugar is
an acceptable
addiction. It's
not uncommon for
people to know
they have a
sugar addiction
and to make a
joke of it. It's
not seen as a
serious matter,
when in reality
it is very
serious indeed.
The list of
health problems
associated with
sugar is
enormous and too
large to go into
completely in
one article, but
some of the most
common symptoms
created are:
depression, mood
swings,
irritability,
depletion of
mineral levels,
hyperactivity,
anxiety, panic
attacks,
chromium
deficiency,
depletion of the
adrenal glands,
type II
diabetes,
hypoglycemia,
candida
overgrowth,
raised levels of
cholesterol and
creates
anti-social
behavior such as
that found in
crime and
delinquency.
One of the most
important issues
that pertains to
all of us living
with chronic
illness is the
impact sugar has
on the immune
system. Sugar
suppresses the
immune system.
It depletes
levels of
phagocytes (the
white blood
cells that are
needed for
strong immune
function and
that eat up
harmful
bacteria) and
this reduces the
bodies' ability
to fight
infection and
disease.
Next to
exercise,
removing sugar
from your diet
is probably one
of the most
important things
you can do for
yourself and
your health.
Removing sugar
from your diet
is not as easy
as you think,
because sugar is
used as an
additive for
preservation and
to make things
more palatable.
So it is
basically found
in most
commercial
foods. Unless
you are living a
health conscious
life-style and
picking your
food wisely,
sugar is in your
catsup, morning
cereal,
spaghetti sauce,
soup, salad
dressing, peanut
butter, pancake
syrup, bread,
yogurt, you name
it and it
probably has
sugar in it.
They even put
sugar in your
salt. You must
learn to read
labels very
carefully to
eliminate sugar
from your diet.
Other steps to
take to help you
kick the sugar
habit are as
follows: -Keep
sugar and all
sugar products
out of the
house, so you
won't be tempted
and give in
during times of
stress and
hunger. -When
you go to a
social event,
take your own
food, or eat
before going.
-Use alternative
whole foods
snacks such as
fruit, dates,
whole grain
crackers in
place of sweets.
-Exercising will
reduce cravings
-Supplementation
with l-glutamine
can reduce
cravings. -Get
emotional
support. -Keep
healthy snacks
on hand for when
cravings come
on. -A chromium
supplement may
be helpful. -Be
patient and
forgiving of
yourself. It
will take time
to be
successful. More
than likely you
will fall off
the wagon
repeatedly. Get
back on and
start again.
Goodbye Candida
New easy way to
fight Candida
http://www.candidasupport.com
