Who doesn’t know candy; cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, soda,
sugary drinks and other sweet treats were bad for the waistline when over
enjoyed? However, how many of us know
just how detrimental and addictive processed sugar can be? And, do you know where it lurks in our foods,
including “healthy” foods? I just
recently became aware of how bad processed sugar is for the human body and all
the sneaky places it can be found in our diets…even healthy diets.
You think you are being “healthy” by eating “reduced fat”
and “fat free” products. Well, sadly, any
food product that is either “reduced fat” or “fat free” is loaded with sugar to
compensate for the lack of fat. Calories
are calories my friends and in order to perform our bodies need some healthy
fats so replacing them with sugar is not a good idea. As a matter of fact, a recent study published
in The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition found we are consuming more than three times the six- teaspoons
–per-day maximum of sugar recommended by the American Heart Association. All that sugar adds up to about 300-plus
calories each day. To gain or lose one
pound of body weight takes 3,600 calories.
This means if you are downing 300 extra calories just in sugar you will
gain one pound in 12 days…just over 30 pounds in a year.
Natural sugar, which our bodies processes easily, can be
found in fruit and vegetables like beets, corn, and potatoes so before you
enjoy your chocolate chip cookie, you’ve probably already consumed all the
sugar your body needs. Don’t cut back on
your produce! Simply be aware of how
much processed sugar is in all the pre-packaged foods you eat. It is hidden in things that don’t even taste
sweet such as bread and salad dressing.
Now you are wondering, “What is so toxic about sugar?” Basically, sugar is made of both fructose and
glucose molecules, which are metabolized differently by your body. When consumed in excess, fructose triggers
your liver to convert it to fat, while glucose triggers a blood-sugar spike and
the release of insulin, a fat storing hormone, to counter-act the spike. This means that eating too much sugar may
stimulate your appetite rather than satisfy it, leading to craving more food
after eating sugar. How sneaky!!! The worst of it all is that in addition to
sugar’s association with obesity, excess sugar consumption has been linked to
serious conditions like insulin resistance, high triglycerides, fatty liver,
heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Be sure to just say, “no” to sugary drinks as well. Researchers speculate that the human body didn’t
evolve to register liquid calories the same way it does solid food. By eliminating sugary drinks, you can slash
350 – 500 calories a day from your diet.
Whether you are either trying to lose weight, or stay
healthy it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of processed sugar in your
diet. I still have an occasional sweet
treat, after all, I’m human, but by taking processed sugar out of my diet I
feel lighter, happier and more energized.
Credit: Women'sHealth, women'shealthmag.com "Weight
Loss Guide", Summer 2012, Bonus: How Sweet It Isn't
Health Tip: Super
Easy-Gift Quality DIY Sugar Scrub for the Shower
Don’t throw out your processed sugar! Use it to make an exfoliating treat for your
hands, feet and entire body. This also
makes a lovely gift at the holidays in a canning jar with pretty ribbon and a
cute label.
Ingredients:
Brown Sugar
White sugar
Olive Oil (great antioxidant for your skin)
Lemon juice or any high quality essential oil for scent and
extra antioxidant benefits
Using a whisk, mix equal amounts of the brown and white
sugar in a bowl. Slowly pour in enough
olive oil to the sugar mixture until crumbly.
Add drops of the essential oil of your choices and whisk
thoroughly. If using lemon juice, add
about one tablespoon and a bit more oil until creamy. Place contents in canning jar and decorate,
as you like. Voila! Summertime, wintertime, anytime skin treat
without the calories.
