Sugar is a fattening, addictive, sweet, poison.

When we eat sugar, dopamine—a temporary feel good hormone, is released in the brain—which can make sugary options addictive.

The more we consume, the more we will crave it.

“White refined sugar is not a food. It is a pure chemical extracted from plant sources, purer in fact than cocaine, which it resembles in many ways. Its true name is sucrose and its chemical formula is C12H22011. It has 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, 11 oxygen atoms and absolutely nothing to offer. The chemical formula for cocaine is C17H21N04. For all practical purposes the difference is that the sugar is missing the “N,” or nitrogen atom.“

~ Dr. David Reuben

The average western person has an intake of between 16- 22 teaspoons of sugar per day. While it may not always be possible to cut it out completely, we can drastically reduce this amount.

The key is to find a balance, as the body can suffer from withdrawal symptoms, causing us to give up before we’ve really tried to stop.

There are many healthy alternatives, so that sugary foods and drinks can be removed one by one until we no longer crave them—sugar will no longer be tasty.

Not only is sugar an empty calorie, it is also extremely harmful for us as it contains half glucose and have fructose.

The glucose is good for us, however the fructose is harmful.

1. We have no requirements for fructose in our diets and when it enters our liver, the majority of the fructose turns straight to fat.

2. Sugar contains no vitamins or minerals, which is why it is classified as an empty calorie.

3. If we do not have a long work out after consuming fructose, parts of the fructose will deposit in the liver, which can then lead to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

4. We also then put ourselves at risk to developing various other health problems, as sugar is strongly associated with a variety of illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.

5. Sugar increases blood levels or uric acid, which can lead to gout and elevated blood pressure.

6. Sugar causes a resistance to insulin, which then leads to type II Diabetes and obesity.

7. The higher the fructose levels in the system, the more fructose we crave as it does not affect satiety. Therefore, it causes us to eat far more than we normally would, without it in our diet.

8. Sugar can cause juvenile delinquency in children.

9. Sugar can be responsible for hyperactivity, difficulties with concentration and anxiety.

10. Sugar can affect the immune system and the body’s ability to defend itself against bacterial infections.

11. Sugar can lead to tooth decay.

12. Sugar can lead to premature aging, as it affects the elasticity in the skin.

13. Sugar can raise cholesterol levels.

These are only a few of the reasons, there are many others highlighted in the video, which although quite long, is informative and interesting.

Many of the other reasons to avoid sugar can be found in the books listed below or by visiting the recommended websites, as the list of harmful effects that fructose can have on us seemingly endless.

Please note, natural fruits do not pose problems unless very sweet fruits are consumed in excess, it is the added use of refined sugar that is important to avoid.

References:

1. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/76/5/911.full

2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002444.htm

3.http://drhyman.com/blog/2013/09/26/fatty-liver-90-million-americans/

4. http://drhyman.com/blog/2013/09/26/fatty-liver-90-million-americans/

5.http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/features/gout-triggers

6.http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/76/5/911.full

7. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/76/5/911.full

8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10706231

9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/

10. http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/family-nutrition/sugar/harmful-effects-excess-sugar

11.http://drhyman.com/blog/2013/09/26/fatty-liver-90-million-americans/

12.http://pals2u.tripod.com/id24.html

13. Prescription Alternatives—Earl Mindell and Virginia Hopkins

Pure, White and Deadly—John Yudkin 

Fat Chance: The Bitter Truth About Sugar – Dr Robert Lustig 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cdp/cdp-pop-the-fact.pdf

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/sugars.aspx

~

Relephant read:

Waking up from Sugar Addiction.

Author: Alex Sandra Myles

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: flickr