Sugars are a big category and in general are harmful to the body.
Sugar is an anti-nutrient that provides none of its own nutrients. In order for us to metabolize sugar it robs our bodies of nutrients that we actually need for other functions.
It is also a major contributor to the inflammatory process in our bodies that is the precursor to many disease processes.
There are the “ose” sugars–sucrose, lactose, maltose, fructose.
We eat far too much of these. For the next few hours after we eat these our immune systems and our white blood cell counts are depressed.
Let’s look at some natural sugars.
Maple syrup is thought of as a natural sweetener. It is boiled however, so it becomes very processed.
If you use honey, make sure it is unheated and unfiltered.
Agave is slower to convert into blood sugar than honey, but don’t overdo agave as it is still sugar.
Many drinks are being advertised as being better for you because they are sweetened with fruit juices like pear or grape. They are still heavily boiled and full of sugar.
A 12-ounce glass of orange juice, for instance, has 10-14 teaspoons of sugar. That’s as much as a 12 ounce can of soda!
Stevia is an herbal extract and probably the best of the natural sugars. Yes, I know it has a strange taste and aftertaste so try different brands and find one that’s palatable.
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame should be avoided.
Studies show that switching to artificial sweeteners did not affect weight loss, so you are taking in poison to help you lose weight, but it doesn’t help. There
are also damaging neurological effects from the artificial sweeteners. You can research this topic on your own. One good video on this topic is called “Sweet Misery.”
Another whole group of non sugar foods quickly convert into sugar after you eat them.
One of these groups is flour in all its many forms. Wheat, which has been hybridized so much, is another.
Grains are not a nutritionally required food group, so if you use them eat whole multi-grained sources.
Gluten is in all grains but not in rice, so if gluten is an issue for you rice is an option. With breads, remember that they are 80% starch and 20% protein/fats. Beans are also 75-80% starch.
So when you think about your carbohydrate choices focus on the ones that are not starch/sugar based.
Vegetables and some fruits are great choices.
It’s an individual choice so learn just how much sugar you can tolerate.
Fats and proteins won’t make you fat, so as I remind people, when it comes to starchy carbohydrates you either use them or wear them!
We all have a sweet tooth and our sweet zone on our tongue is front and center, so we are all faced with satisfying our need for a sweet taste.
It comes down to wanting optimal health. To me that means an optimal life span, preventing disease and having abundant energy.
We definitely improve our health when we educate ourselves and utilize nutritional
information.
Here’s to your sweet success!
shelli
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