Sugar’s effect on our health is not so sweet
Sugar’s effect on our health is not so sweet
Valentines Day has always been viewed as a day of romance — couples going out to their favorite restaurants, making romantic gestures of extravagant flower arrangements, exchanging gifts of jewelry, giving that someone special a gigantic heart-shaped box of chocolates.
It is a sweet gesture to give sweets to show our love but keep in mind that sugar’s effect on our health is not so sweet. Along with refined flours, refined sugar consumption is wreaking havoc on our health. We have become addicted to sugary foods and snacks. Similar to addictions to drugs, alcohol, or caffeine, eliminating sugar from our diet can result in withdrawal symptoms such as intense cravings, tantrums, and mood swings. By replacing sugar-loaded snacks with naturally sweet snacks such as melon cubes, apple slices, or healthy homemade baked goods with natural sweeteners makes this process easier. Adding proteins, whole grains will also help.
Although sugar is derived from a natural source (sugar cane or sugar beet), refined/white sugar has been stripped of 90 percent of its fibrous materials as well as precious vitamins and minerals. White sugar is derived from sugar cane or beets and is processed into sucrose (table sugar), by removing the fibers the sugar enters the blood stream far too quickly, resulting in a heightened insulin response. High levels of insulin and the fluctuations of the blood sugar can lead to symptoms such as mood swings, weight gain, headaches, and low energy.
Children with attention deficit disorder and other behavioral disorders can also benefit from eliminating this blood sugar fluctuation.
Fact: Sugar suppresses the immune system, creates lack of focus, mood fluctuations, and fatigue.
The immune system is important for the maintenance of health and even the prevention of illness. There are literally millions of potentially harmful viruses, bacteria, and yeast that our immune systems respond to daily. This is normal and these bugs actually strengthen the immune system. Once it is exposed to these familiar invaders, the immune system will respond quickly to fight off the bug. But by throwing off the immune system with sugar, it allows a perfect environment for illness/infection to develop.
Fact: Within 15 minutes of consuming 100 grams of refined sugar (the average consumed in an evening meal), the average person loses over 90 percent of immune function!
Life can still be sweet without the harmful effects of refined white sugar by using natural substitutes such as Stevia, Coconut Sugar, Maple Sugar, Agave Nectar, Pure Maple Syrup, Raw Honey, these natural sweeteners are full of vitamins and minerals and will not spike the blood sugar. Use them in your recipes in place of sugar.
Try this easy raw recipe below and make your own truffles that are naturally sweet and packed with heart healthy Omega Fats!
1 cup of dry oatmeal
1/2 cup cacao nibs
1/2 cup sesame seed butter (any nut butter would work as well too)
1/3 cup raw honey
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup cacao powder
Mix all ingredients except for cacao powder, together in a large bowl, roll into bite size balls, then roll until covered in the cacao powder. Refrigerate to set. Enjoy with a loved one.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
For more nutrition tips and recipes visit www.yourholisticnutritionist.com
Stay tuned as I will be posting some of my tried and tested sugar free treats to keep life sweet!
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(Kalayaan Garcia de Vera is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who graduated at the top of her class with honours at The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. As a member of the Canadian Holistic Association of Nutritionist Professionals, she has conducted weight loss studies and detoxification workshops. Her website is www.yourholisticnutritionist.com)
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