BY Trish Tansley, Certified Holistic Health, Wellness & Diabetes Coach
Have you ever wondered what happens to your body when you eat sugar? What about when you eat too much sugar? Do you know how much your body needs? Do you know how much sugar that you consume? Research shows that sugar consumption is rising each and every year.
What research shows – Research shows that the average woman is consuming between 125-130 grams of sugar, this is 30-32 teaspoons of sugar per day! Research shows that the average person is consuming around 150 pounds of sugar every year. As women, we should be consuming no more than 25 grams of sugar that is 6 teaspoons of sugar per day compared to the 30-32!
Even though the body processes naturally occurring sugars and added sugars (refined) in the same way, naturally occurring sugars tend to be higher in nutrients whereas refined sugars provide little nutritional value as they are lower in nutrient densities.
The human body is not made to consume excessive amounts of sugar – especially fructose. Our bodies actually process fructose differently than sugar (sucrose). Fructose is actually a toxin that damages your liver, and it is metabolized into fat, which can have long term effects on your health. One study found that fructose actually feeds cancer cells, which speeds up their growth and allows the cancer to spread faster.
Pop or sodas are a major source of refined sugars (fructose & HFCS), energy drinks follow, and even “fruit drinks” are working against us. Just because you see the word “fruit” doesn’t mean that it is good for us as processed fruit drinks are stripped of their nutrients (fiber), and other additives and sugar has been added that makes them worse for us than pop. We are also consuming excessive amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is about 20% sweeter than regular sugar; this is why food/beverage manufacturers use HFCS as its additive and it is cheaper to use in their products.
TOO MUCH SUGAR can damage your liver, and can lead to non-alcoholic liver disease. TOO MUCH SUGAR…can trick your body into gaining weight. TOO MUCH SUGAR…can affect your insulin signaling – the effects can lead to diabetes. TOO MUCH SUGAR…can cause metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, excess fat around the waist and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). TOO MUCH SUGAR…can greatly increase your risk for heart disease, stroke & diabetes.
Did You Know? …that research shows that SUGAR is toxic, addictive (as cocaine) and deadly! Do you know all of the different names for sugar that are on the nutritional labels?
When it comes to food and beverages, if you always use the rule of “Good, Better, Best” then you will be making the best choices for your body to live a long, happy and balanced lifestyle.
To learn more visit www.healthyhabitswithtrish.com or email Trish at HoheHA@shaw.ca.