Sugar Sweet Sugar
As we head into the holidays I thought this would be a great
time to touch on the subject of sugar and that sweet tooth. Halloween was just a few weeks ago and I know
my family is going crazy wanting to eat all there candy. Now do they really need all that candy? The
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that the average
American consumes anywhere between 150 to 170 pounds of simple sugars, also
known as refined sugars (this includes glucose, sucrose and fructose) or simple
carbohydrates in one year! Now if you
consider 100 years ago the average American only consumed 4 pounds of sugar it
is no wonder why we are seeing such a drastic rise in obesity. Sugar has been compared to drugs such as
alcohol, heroin, and nicotine. We know
that after consuming a sugary treat your brain releases a chemical called
opiod, which gives you that feel good feeling.
The problem is the brain recognizes this and then begins to crave more. After sugar enters the bloodstream, your
blood sugar level rises, causing the pancreas to releaser insulin (insulin is
needed to convert sugar into energy).
When a large amount of sugar is consumed, more insulin is released. The insulin converts the sugar into an
instant energy source, which explains the jolt or “high” you get from a
doughnut or a piece of cake. After high
levels of insulin are released, blood sugar levels begin to decrease rapidly,
resulting in the “crash” you feel shortly after eating a sugary treat. In addition, to convert sugar into energy,
insulin also stimulates the storage of fat.
Therefore, the more sugar you eat, the more insulin you produce and
consequently, the more likely it is that you will gain weight as your body becomes
insulin resistant. Along with obesity
and tooth decay, sugar has also been linked to more serious health conditions,
including increased mood swings, a depressed immune system and diabetes.
Now, I know being a parent the last thing I want to do is deprive
my kids of the holidays so naturally I offer to help out in the consuming of
their Halloween treats. But all kidding
aside there are ways to help your family avoid sugar addiction. Monitor how much they consume is the best
way. I find with my kids explaining why
it is so bad for you is enough for them to pick out their favorites and throw
the rest away. Limit it to the weekends
only. It will last forever! For you sugar addicts who just can’t resist
the sweets over the holidays, make sure you are up on those omega-3’s, zinc,
vitamin C and D to help raise serotonin levels so you have more control. Jambul, also know as syzygium, is an
Ayurvedic herb that has been used to help reduce or balance the level of sugar
in your blood. By helping control the
blood sugar levels you’ll be better at keeping cravings at bay.
I hope you have a healthy and safe holiday.
Krissi Ritter
Fitness Specialist – CAC Juanita Bay.
No comments:
Post a Comment