Sugar : Is it good or bad?
Refined sugar
SugarAffecting the Body and Mind
Like refined grains, Refined sugar is considered one of the most
harmful foods consumed today. In2006, Americans devoured 7.7
billion pounds of candy. Consumption of processed foods, which
arelaced with sugar, costs the American public more than $54
billion in dental bills each year. The dentalindustry reaps huge
profits from our addictions to sugar products.
Refined sugar
In 1915, the national average of sugar consumption per year was
15 to 20 pounds per person. Onaverage, we now consume our weight in
sugar each year, plus over 20 pounds of corn syrup. Somepeople
consume much less than the average figure, which means that there
is a percentage of thepopulation that consumes a great deal more
refined sugar than their body weight each year. Thislarge amount of
refined carbohydrates causes considerable damage in the body.
A Damaging Ingredient
The Refrained Sugar
A Damaging Ingredient
Refined sugar contains no fiber, no minerals, no proteins, no
fats, and no enzymesonly empty calories. When we eat refined sugar,
our bodies must borrow nutrients from healthy cells to metabolize
the incomplete food. Calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium are
used up in making the sugar useable.
Refined sugar
Many times, so much calcium is used to neutralize the effects of
sugar that we can get osteoporosis. Decay also occurs in our teeth.
If our bodies lack the nutrients used to metabolize sugar, we
cannot properly deal with poisonous waste. These wastes accumulate
in our brains and nervous systems, which causes our cells to die
faster.
Refined sugar
Our bloodstreams become overloaded with waste products, which
often makes us sick. Sugar also makes our blood very thick and
sticky, inhibiting blood flow into the tiny capillaries that supply
our gums and teeth with vital nutrients. Therefore, we wind up with
diseased gums and starving teeth.
Refined sugar
America andEngland, the two largest sugar consumers, have
horrendous dental problems.
Refined sugar
GreenFacts Digest, an independent, non-profit organization that
summarizes scientific reports onvarious topics for the general
public and reports the consensus, says this about sugar:Sugars are
the most important dietary factor in the development of dental
caries. Worldwide studies on human populations show an association
between sugar consumption and level of dental caries. Isolated
communities that consume a small amount of sugar have a very low
level of this disease.
Refined sugar
Groups of people with a high exposure to sugars havea higher
level. A strong correlation exists between both the amount and
frequency of sugar consumption and the development of caries, even
in countries that use preventative measures such as water
fluoridation. In addition to solid foods, consumption of sugary
drinks also increases the risk of developing dental cavities.
Refined sugar
Studies have shown that starches are generally a much lower risk
factor in developing dental caries than sugars.However, when
starches are cooked or combined with sugars, the risk is greater.
As part of a normal mixed diet, there is little evidence that fruit
causes caries or diabetes. Animal studies have shown that when
fruit is consumed in very high frequencies (e.g. 17 times a day) it
may induce caries. The link between dietary sugars and dental
caries is supported by a large body of evidence.
Diabetes
Diabetes is caused when our pancreases can't produce enough
insulin when our blood sugar rises. We can literally wear out our
pancreases by poor dietary choices, and diabetes will set in. Diets
high in processed foods have high refined sugar and saturated or
hydrolyzed fat content, and they usually are high in high glycemic
foods. The latter are those which quickly are converted by the body
into glucose, a form of sugar. Almost always, those foods are
processed foods.
Refined sugar
A concentratedamount of high glycemic index foods introduced
into the system shocks our bodies and overwhelmstheir capacity to
deal with the influx. Over time, breakdown and disease results.
Refined sugar
Hypoglycemia, another pancreatic problem, occurs when our
pancreases overreact to all the sugar inour blood and release too
much insulin. This leaves us feeling tired. Refined sugar may also
be a major factor in gallstone disease. The bodys efforts to digest
or eliminate such an unnatural product can result in the upsetting
of the mineral balance in our bodies.
Refined sugar
In an effort to rebalance itself, some minerals either form
deposits somewhere in the body or are drawn from body parts where
theyre needed. Calcium can deposit itself in our gallbladders and
become toxic. Gallstones may be the result; they are composed of
fats and calcium.
The Sweet Drug
The Sweet Drug
Some call refined sugar a drug, because in the refining process
everything of food value has been removed except the carbohydrates.
Refined sugar has no elements that make up food. Many nutrition
experts say that white sugar is extremely harmful,possibly as
harmful as drugs, especially in the quantities currently consumed
in North America. One of the keys to orderly brain function is
glutamic acid, a compound is found in many vegetables.
The Sweet Drug
When sugar is consumed, the good bacteria in the intestines that
manufacture B vitamin complexes begin to die. When the B vitamin
complex level declines, the glutamic acid is not processed and
sleepiness occurs. This also causes a decreased ability for
short-term memory function and problem Solving.
The Sweet Drug
Dr. David Reuben, author of Everything You Always Wanted to Know
About Nutrition, says, White refined sugar is not a food. It is
pure chemical extracted from plant sources, purer in fact than
cocaine, which it resembles in many ways. Its true name is sucrose
and its chemical formula is C12H22O11. It has 12 carbon atoms, 22
hydrogen atoms, 11 oxygen atoms, and absolutely nothingelse to
offer.
The Sweet Drug
Compare sugars formula with cocaines: C17H21NO4. For all
practical purposes, the difference between the two is that sugar is
missing the nitrogen atom. Mental problems may also be caused by
high sugar intake. Our brains are very sensitive and react to quick
chemical changes in our bodies. As we consume sugar, our cells are
robbed of their vitamins, and insulin production is inhibited.
The Sweet Drug
Low insulin production means a high sugar level in our
bloodstreams, which can lead to a confused mental state. This has
also been linked with juvenilecriminal behavior. Many mental ward
and prison inmates are sugarholics. Erratic emotional outbreaks
often follow a sugar binge.
Where Does Refined Sugar Come From?
Refining means to make pure by a process of extraction or
separation. Sugar is commonly made from sugar cane or sugar beets.
Through heating and mechanical and chemical processing, every
nutrient is removed until only the sugar remains. The sugar cane
and sugar beets are first harvested and then chopped into small
pieces. Then the juice is squeezing out and mixed with water.
Refined Sugar
This liquid is then heated, and lime is added. Moisture is
boiled away, and the remaining fluid is pumped into vacuum pans to
concentrate the juice. By this time, the liquid is starting to
crystallize and is ready to be placed into a centrifuge machine
where any remaining residues or by-products, like molasses, are
spun away.
Refined Sugar
The crystals are then boiled and passed through charcoal
filters. After the crystals condense, they are bleachedusually by
the use of pork or cattle bones. During the refining process, 64
food elements are destroyed. All the potassium, magnesium, calcium,
iron, manganese, phosphate, and sulphate are removed. The A, D, and
B vitamins are destroyed. Amino acids, vital enzymes, unsaturated
fats, and all fiber are gone.
Refined Sugar
All refined sweeteners such as syrups undergo similar
destructive process. Corn syrup has even been found to contain
mercury residues from processing. Sugar manufacturers are
aggressive in defending their product. They have a strong political
lobby, allowing them to sell a deadly food item that, by all
reason, should not be allowed in the AmericanDiet.
Refined Sugar
The Final Word
Refined Sugar
Studies show that sugar is just as habit-forming as any
narcotic. The average healthy digestive system can digest and
eliminate from two to four teaspoons of sugar daily without
noticeable problems. However, one can of cola contains 11 teaspoons
of sugar.
Refined Sugar
Sugar gives us brief increases in energy due to the rise of the
blood sugar level, but the body quickly releases a rush of insulin,
which rapidly lowers the blood sugar and causes a significant drop
in energy and endurance.
Refined Sugar
If you have any doubts about the harmful nature of refined
sugar, take it out of your diet for severalweeks and see if it
makes a difference! You may also notice you have acquired an
addiction andexperience some withdrawal symptoms.
Sources
i www.candyusa.comii
www.greenfacts.org/en/diet-nutrition/l-2/9-dental-caries.htm#3iii
Nancy Appleton, Lick The Sugar Habit (New York: Warner Books,
1985): 73-74
