Sugar

So last week I attempted to go processed food free. The week was not a success (so much harder than I anticipated!). There were some good days but definitely other not so good or totally bad days. Never fear, though! I am going to try again this week! I know it will be a success.

I lent my cousin my copy of Food Matters which, after she finished, led to some really great discussions. I've decided to start my Monday off with another food blog. The more I learn, the more I want to share. (My family has heard my endless rants on processed sugar.) As a complete sugar addict myself, I thought it would be good to start with some sugar facts. (They've certainly had me thinking and re-thinking how much sugar I eat!)

As one of my friends once told me, you only have one life and one body. It's important to know what you're putting in it. 

Here are 50 reasons to stop (or reduce) your sugar intake:
(From, http://naturalhealthpractice.org/78_reasons_to_avoid_sugar.htm)

1. Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against disease.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in your body: causes chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
3. Sugar can cause can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children (and adults!)
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol
5. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function.
6. Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach.
7. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
8. Sugar can cause many problems with the gastrointestinal tract including: an acidic digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption in patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
9. Sugar can cause premature aging.
10. Sugar can cause your saliva to become acidic, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.
11. Sugar contributes to obesity.
12. Sugar can cause autoimmune diseases such as: arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis.
13. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections)
14. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
15. Sugar can cause a decrease in your insulin sensitivity thereby causing an abnormally high insulin levels and eventually diabetes.
16. Sugar can lower your Vitamin E levels.
17. Sugar can increase your systolic blood pressure.
18. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children (and adults)
19. Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.
20. Sugar causes food allergies.
21. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
22. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
23. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
24. Sugar can impair the structure of your DNA.
25. Sugar can change the structure of protein and cause a permanent alteration of the way the proteins act in your body.
26. Sugar can make your skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
27. Sugar can cause emphysema.
28. Sugar lowers the ability of enzymes to function.
29. Sugar can increase the size of your liver by making your liver cells divide and it can increase the amount of liver fat.
30. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney such as the formation of kidney stones.
31. Sugar can damage your pancreas
32. Sugar can increase your body's fluid retention
33. Sugar is enemy number 1 of your bowel movement.
34. Sugar can compromise the lining of your capillaries
35. Sugar can make your tendons more brittle.
36. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
37. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves which can alter your mind's ability to think clearly.
38. Sugar can cause depression.
39. Sugar can increase your risk of gout.
40. Sugar can increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease.
41. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalances such as: increasing oestrogen in men, exacerbating PMS, and decreasing growth hormone.
42. Diets high in sugar will increase free radicals and oxidative stress.
43. Sugar is an addictive substance.
44. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
45. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
46. Your body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.
47. I.V.s (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to your brain.
48. In intensive care units: Limiting sugar saves lives
49. Sugar may induce cell death.
50. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44 percent drop in antisocial behavior.