I've been getting a number of requests to discuss my old nemesis sugar in a blog so here goes...
Sugar isn't all bad
First, you should know that without sugars, you wouldn't run. Like a car, you need sugar for fuel (though sugar in a car's gas tank is naughty). But it's the way you get your sugar that should concern you.
Good forms of sugar
All carbohydrates are good. Your body likes to break them down into usable sugars for fuel. Some examples include: fruits, vegetables, roots (potatoes, etc.) and most grains. There will be a whole section on rice -- a magic food -- soon. One problem in digestion comes from mixing protein with carbs. Now, you need protein almost as much as you need carbs but just separate them and everything works better.
Bad forms of sugar
These would be processed sugars. Sugar, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Fructose and any of the artificial sweeteners on the planet. Hell, pure sugar is probably better than all of the artificial ones. But look at how the body treats processed sweeteners before you start mainlining the white crystalline powder.
Effects of sugar
Your body was designed a long time ago, before refined sugars. It's primary job is to separate nutrients and sugars from food to power the organism and aid digestion. Mostly, minerals and proteins go to rebuilding and sugars for fuel. When you give the organism (your body, duh) sugars that have been processed for you, your body does what it always does with excess sugars. Stores them. As fat.
Yes, fat bad but only in the form of stored sugar
And your body (the organism, duh) stores the fat right where it is. The belly. In order to access the fat stores in your body you need to exercise -- a lot. And if you've ever done it, converting fat to sugar is actually a little painful. Best to keep a steady flow of energy to the muscles in the form of fruit.
More affects of sugar on the body
Sugar is like cocaine. It started life as a plant, it was processed and crystallized, and a lot of people who care nothing about your health make the money on it while you insist you're not addicted. It affects your heart in that it is a powerful stimulant and that's not good. The best way to get your heart beating is exercise, not drugs. Your pancreas and adrenal glands are also negatively impacted by sugar. They like to process sugars derived from foods. When you eat processed sugar (or drink it -- in the form of child and adult beverages), you really tax the hell out of your pancreas, which needs to produce insulin in mass quantities to help turn the sugars into fat. And there's the whole alcohol affect. Yes, if you have yeast in your digestive system (and you do, believe me), those little bastards will turn sugar in your stomach into alcohol that bleeds through your stomach and into your blood stream. Boom! Drunk on a Baby Ruth!
Alternatives to sugars
All fruits, all carbs. The best are beets, potatoes, oranges, pears and apples. But you want to sweeten foods and drinks with something, right? OK. How about honey or my personal favorite -- Maple Sugar. I could write a whole blog on Maple Syrup so keep an eye out.
Challenge #1
Try to go a whole day without eating any sugars. That means processed sugars of course but also fruits and some sweeter vegetables. Let me know how that goes for you..
Much love in the new year.
