We have been told for years that if you eat fat, you will become fat. This experiment on the American public, without scientific support, was done without our consent. The food industry has taken full advantage of this ‘theory’ and placed sugar in place of fat in our foodfat-free, reduced fat, ‘healthy’ (because it has no fat). Since that time, the rate of overweight and obese people has jumped at the same rate as the increase in sugar consumption.
It is now estimated that the average American ingests about pound of sugar each day. Of the 600,000 food items available on the grocery shelves, 80% of them have added sugar. A child who drinks one can of soda pop per day increases his risk of obesity by 60%.
I found this interesting bit of information. Let’s say it takes 2000 calories a day to maintain your body’s basic functionsthinking, muscle movement, digestion, other organ functioning. Sugar is converted into energy (ATP) to perform those functions and many more.
If you eat 2000 calories a day, you feel good, and you don’t gain weight because that is what your body needs.?
However, if 500 calories of sugar is added to your 2000-calorie diet, it is immediately converted into fat, because the body does not need that much sugar that fast. This means that you will only ingest 1500 more calories during the day to maintain basic body functions. Since the body needs 2000 calories, the body feels hungry, and you may even have low blood sugar. Basically, you feel crappy (a medical term!). So, you eat 500 more calories to meet your caloric needs and you feel better. You are now on a 2500 calorie diet, and gaining weight in fat.
So how much is 500 calories of sugar? It is equivalent to 31 teaspoons of sugar. There are 512 calories in a 44 ounce Super Big Gulp; 364 calories in a 32 ounce Big Gulp; 210 calories in a Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookie. As you can see, it is easy to eat or drink 500 calories of sugar in a day, and much of it could be in one sitting. Some people I have know buy a Big Gulp in the morning and drink a little bit all day long, extending their fast intake of sugar throughout the day.
What can you do about it?
Stop eating sugar! But that is much easier said than done. Because sugar is added to processed food, you must read the label on everything in a can or box. Although there are over 250 different names for sugar, most of them you can recognize. Most everything that ends in -ose is a sugar. And don’t be fooled by the label that has sugar as the 3rd ingredient, but has fructose, maltose, and who knows what else at ingredient number 6, 9 and 11, making sugar the #1 ingredient.
Some people have found a friend who will do the sugar-free push with them and provide support and insight. This makes it a lot more fun. There are books and programs that are also helpful.
Some people who are addicted have needed the insight and help of a health coach.
Is it worth it?
Sugar, with its accompanying insulin, is highly inflammatory in the body. Inflammation causes discomfort and pain. This may include headaches, joint pain, muscle aches, poor sleep. Sugar feeds viruses, bacteria and cancer cells. Yeast and Candida organisms thrive on sugar. These cause gas, bloating, itching and a whole host of other problems.
When you are off sugar, your energy will improve, discomforts will reduce, your mind will become clearer and freedom from the shackles of sugar will be exhilarating. It is definitely worth it.
I will soon be releasing my highly successful program, Sweet Freedom From Sugar. If you would like to be placed on the interest list to learn more about it, sign up here.
Dr. Stan Gardner, M.D., CNS, is a certified nutrition specialist who understands how to help people become well on a cellular level. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Gardner’s philosophies, visit his website at keystohealing.net. His office number in Sandy, Utah is (801) 302-5397.
