It has become increasingly clear that sugar is creating a terrible burden on our health.
First let me say that sugar shouldn’t necessarily be the bad guy but it has become this way. There is a simple saying…everything in moderation…however this is not the case with sugar anymore. The suggested amount of sugar we should consume on a daily basis is 6-9 teaspoons a day. Four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon of sugar. So when looking at the packages of food we eat if it is says 12 grams per serving then that would equal 3 teaspoons of sugar.
Glucose is necessary for the body to function properly. Simple table sugar will convert to glucose in the body as well as all the sugars that have some different names like:
- dextran
- dextrose
- diatase
- diastatic malt
- ethyl maltol
- fructose
- maltodextrin
- maltose
- mannitol
- high-fructose corn syrup
- malt syrup
There many many more different names of sugar. As consumers it is getting harder and harder to distinguish what is sugar on the label.
Obesity is on the rise year after year and the major culprit is sugar. Many people are getting 3 to 4 times the necessary sugar everyday! In fact one can of a 12 oz Coca Cola has 39 grams of sugar or almost 10 teaspoons of sugar! Things really do go down better with coke because its so sweet you can’t help but drink it! The sad fact is addiction begins to develop and people will start to crave it.
One out of every three people in the US are classified obese. Two out of every three people in the US is classified overweight. In Canada we are catching up to those numbers. The big culprit is SUGAR! Cut the sugar and you will lose weight.
For people who have joint replacements we should be paying close attention. To have our new parts work effectively and long term we should striving to get to our ideal weight!
Sugar is as addictive as alcohol or cocaine.
So what can we do to fix this problem? First we must become vigilant at reading labels in the grocery store. Did you know that the lobbyists prevented putting the daily recommended percentages next to sugar on the label? This has been done to deceive the consumer because if they knew how much of the daily recommended sugar was in a serving they might not buy it. We need to be the stewards of our own health and that of our family.
Here is a quick video called “Sugar is Killing us” https://youtu.be/Yda8RtOcVFU
There are few alternatives to using sugar that are actually good for you. One that I have found that is beneficial to your health is Stevia.
Stevia is perhaps the only sweetener that is not just “not harmful,” but has actual health benefits. It has no calories, is 100% natural, and if you choose the the right one then it also tastes like a million bucks. That seems like a better option for the consumer. If you are looking to start your day with a shake full of protein and good low glycemic carbs make sure that that they use Stevia instead of fructose of high fructose corn syrup or many of the other oddly named sugars. Buy Stevia to replace your table sugar in the house. The health of you and your family will thank-you for it.
Yours in Health,
John -One Hip Guy