Sugar: Is it as Sweet as it Seems?

 

 

Is Sugar as Sweet as it Seems?

Why is it that 1/3 of the adults worldwide have high blood pressure when in the year 1900 only 5% had it? This is the question that Richard Johnson, nephrologist at the University of Colorado Denver asks. Why are more and more Americans obese (1 in 8 today but in 1900 it was 1 in 50,000)?  Researchers believe the main culprit is sugar, not the lack of exercise, fats, or salt.

 

 

 

 

How it Happened?

Sugar is added to processed food to add flavor and texture as well as acting as a preservative to extend shelf life. Even without dipping into the sugar bowl, we are still consuming 22.4 teaspoons a day. Sugar is found in fruits and vegetables (also known as fructose). Even though this equates to small amounts, when consumed in excess, it builds up in the liver. The liver turns sugars into fats and then enters our bloodstream resulting in obesity, hypertension, type two diabetes, and insulin resistance.

 

 

Types of Sugar

 Sucrose sugar is granulated cane or beet sugar. This is what is used in coffee, tea, and baking. For example, three Oreo cookies have 10.46 grams or 2.49 teaspoons of sugar. Low fat fruit yogurt in an 8 ounce container holds 25.87 grams or 6.16 teaspoons of sugar.

High fructose corn syrup is made cheap by government subsidies. This is found in anything from soup to soda. It is basically found in every single processed food we eat. In a 12 ounce can of cola there are 33.31 grams or 7.93 teaspoons of sugar.

 

 

 

An interesting concept is that in order to consume 22.4 teaspoons of sugar in a day, you must eat one of the following foods and amount:

• 4 red apples 

• 448 eggs

• 15 ears of corn 

• 428 cups of rice sugar

 

  

Things that Help and Hurt 

Things that help…

o Visiting a nutritionist

o Getting bloodwork

o Taking herbs and supplements

Things that hurt …

o Consuming juices and smoothies

o Eating processed foods