Sugar

This site is primarily dedicated to issues of Food Intolerance and under that umbrella is the issue of Sugar Intolerance.  Another Food issue that runs rampant, however is Sugar Addiction and it is appropriate to discuss it here since the solution is the same as the treatment for any other food intolerance; eliminating the food – in this case, the sugar.

It is possible to be sugar intolerance and sugar addicted, however they are two separate things.  If you are sugar intolerant, it is the same as any other food intolerance and you must avoid sugar as much as possible.  Look for terms that mean “sugar”: tubinado, fructose, sucrose, glucose, lactose, maltose, xylose, corn syrup, malt syrup, rice syrup, dextrose, honey, molasses.

Sugar Addiction on the other hand is the non-stop need and craving for sweets and sugary foods.The sweet of sugar is in bags, boxes, cans, bottles, jars and on menus everywhere in our country.  The “Sugar Addiction Cycle” goes like this -

• The body says “Please give me sugar.”
• If denied that sugar, then a strong feeling takes over and the body is saying “I want some sugar.”
• Deny the body sugar still and it will say, “I need sugar!”
• Hold off longer and your body will start screaming “Give me sugar now  #^(*$&!”

For someone who then eats the sugar, there is a feeling of pleasure and the person functions undisturbed. But several hours later, the Sugar Addiction Cycle begins again.  Studies show that consuming 3-6 teaspoons of sugar depresses the immune system for the next 6-8 hours!

Our bodies crave sugar.  In fact, put simply, sugar converts to energy when it enters the body and our bodies need energy to function.  Sugar is a quick and simple fix.  But in those 28.6 grams of carbohydrate that are in 1 ounce of sugar, there is no fiber, no protein, and no significant amounts of vitamins or minerals.  It is just a bit of quick energy in crystalline form – kind of like Crack Cocaine for many and for some, perhaps even worse!    When we think of addictive substances we commonly think of the nicotine in cigarettes, the alcohol in beverages such as beer and wine or even the caffeine in our coffee. But for many, sugar can be just as addictive.

Excess sugar in our diet is linked to Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and many other diseases as well, including an increased risk factor for heart disease.

Waiting too long between meals and snacks can cause you to become so hungry and irritable that it’s hard to think clearly. That can in turn cause us to grab quick and easily-accessible foods that are high in sugar (and saturated fat too – but that’s another issue).

If you are addicted to sugar, I wish I could say that beating a sugar addiction will be easy, but it will not. However, there is a choice to be made. We can continue to exist in an unhealthy state, living off of whatever drops out of the vending machine or is passed through the drive-thru window, or we can make a stand to live healthier in order to feel better, be better, and live longer.  You can do it.  Check back for tips and tricks for beating sugar addiction.

For more information about Sugar Intolerance, Sugar Addiction and Food Intolerance, Click Here.

Sugar Addiction Resources

There are about 28.6 grams of carbohydrate in 1 ounce of sugar. That is 4 grams of carbohydrate per teaspoon of sugar, and there are about 10 teaspoons of sugar in a regular can of soda. For the 6 foot tall, 40 year-old, 175 pound male who is happy being at 175 pounds his daily carbohydrate requirement is roughly 299-350 grams of carbs in a day.  One can of regular soda is about one-eighth of his whole daily intake of carbs.  Two cans of soda and a candy bar is approaching a third of the daily amount of carbohydrate intake needed to maintain his weight, and it is all in the form of simple sugars! Many Americans finish off two cans of soda and a candy bar before lunch. And if it isn’t soda and candy bars, it is muffins, pancakes, doughnuts, milkshakes, sweet tea, pastries, pies, cakes and the list goes on.

Many people think it is very healthy to eat a yogurt for breakfast, but a single yogurt can contain 30-40 grams of carbohydrates, most of which are in sugar form.  Keep in mind that not all carbs are created equal.  The amount of fiber versus the amount of straight-up sugar is important.  So that single yogurt counts for a big percentage of the maximum amount of carbs you should get in a day!

Our bodies need carbohydrate for energy, but we don’t need all the sugar that comes along with the Standard American Diet.  You need at least 100 grams of carbohydrate a day to meet the needs of your brain and other body tissues that do not easily use other fuels.  Experts recommend that we get about 45-60 percent of our calories from carbohydrates.

Healthy forms of carbohydrate include fruits and vegetables and whole grains.  These foods also include some sugar.  Getting sugars from these forms is alright because those foods provide additional nutritional value.  Foods high in carbohydrate and sugar, such as sodas and candy bars are not because they do not provide any nutritional value or minimal at best maybe if the candy bar contains nuts.

Today, ask yourself, what kinds of carbohydrate do I eat?  Is there something I you could cut out?  Is there something I should cut out?  Is there something I could replace with an orange or an apple or a even a banana?

Sugar is involved in, and even the direct cause of, many issues such as:

• Weight gain
• Insulin resistance
• Foggy thinking
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sudden rising and falling of energy levels
• Yeast infections
• Interference in mineral absorption
• Tooth decay and Gum disease
• Upsetting the delicate balance of the flora of the gut
• Sleep Disruption
• Increase appetite causing you to eat even more
• Headaches

But wait, there’s more! Studies show that sugar can be linked to depression and anxiety too.  Hopefully this is enough to raise awareness and initiate a desire to eliminate sugar from the diet.