SUGAR!!!!....We all love it and gotta have it...but should we?!?!?

Yep, you guessed it.....today it's all about sugar and the news is all bad. There are absolutely no benefits to eat sugar. I know we all know that sugar isn't a health food but do we really understand the damage that sugar can do to your body. Here are a few reasons....well actually more than a few....as to what the intake of sugar can do to our bodies. Are you ready? ............

1. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
2. Sugar can cause premature aging.
3. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in tryglycerides.
5. Sugar suppresses the immune system
6. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
7. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat. (ever heard of fatty liver)
8. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
9. Sugar can increase water retention.
10. Sugar can cause headaches...including migraine
11. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer.
12. Sugar can cause indigestion.
13. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
14. Sugar can cause depression or make it worse.
15. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
16. Sugar feeds cancer.
17. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract which can cause digestive problems and also lead to weight gain
18. Sugar can cause colon cancer.
19. Sugar is addicting
20. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
21. Sugar can cause high blood pressure.
22. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
23. Sugar increases the risk of stomach cancer.
24. Sugar can cause liver cancer
25. Sugar causes constipation.
26. Sugar causes food allergies.
27. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
28. Sugar can cause cataracts.
29. Sugar can worsen symptoms of ADHD.
30. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance
31. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.....and I could list another 100 reasons or so about the damages of using sugar but for the purposes of this post, I think that is enough to get a clearer picture.

As stated earlier, sugar is highly addicting. It ranks right up there with alcohol addiction. I will try to explain why we have the addictions and steps that you can take to banish sugar forever. Too often times, we blame ourselves when we 'give in' to that craving but addictions whether it is to alcohol, sugar, or junk food in general is usually due to the fact that our body has its signals mixed up. When we are stressed, exhausted, or depressed the serotonin levels in the brain signals that it needs a 'pick-me-up'and usually that 'pick-me-up' is going to be in the form of sugar, alcohol, or refined carbs. Serotonin is our basic feel-good hormone. If serotonin is low, the brain will send out signals saying it needs something and it pretty much needs it NOW!! Unfortunately, eating sugar and simple carbohydrates give the brain what it is looking for......but only for a short period of time and then within a few hours the brain sends out the same message and the process is repeated again and again and.....until the brain literally becomes addicted to getting that sugar rush on a daily basis.

If you are eating a high-carb low-fat diet like so many Americans today because that is what you have been told is the best way to maintain or lose weight.....you have been lied to. Insulin is a hormone that is responsbile for maintaining your blood sugar and every time you eat something that contains sugar or refined carbs, your pancreas is responding by releasing the insulin. However by constantly eating refined carbs or sugars your pancreas is being overworked. Another problem with the high carb diets of today are the toll that they take on your liver and adrenal glands as well.....which then puts you in another vicious cycle and increases your food cravings.

Now that you know some of the dangers of eating sugar, what can you do to limit your intake of not only sugar but the refined carbs which your body sees as just the same as eating sugar because once eaten, refined carbs are easily metabolized into sugars.

1. Don't drink fruit juice in the morning because that sets your blood sugar up for the rest of the day and you will be constantly trying to 'satisfy' those cravings. A better choice than drinking fruit juice at all is to eat the real thing.....because then you are still getting the fiber from the fruit which helps to balance the sugars in the fruit.

2. Go for whole grains....same theory here as well. Whole grains are just that...'whole'....they still have the fiber content and vitamins and minerals found in that particular grain....everything is left intact. Whereas, refined breads, etc. have no nutritional value and are actually robbing your body of necessary minerals and vitamins.

3. Increase your water intake. One-half ounce for every pound of body weight. Dehydration can cause sugar or food cravings.

4. Eliminate soft drinks...talk about a sugar roller coaster.

5. Using artificial sweeteners is not a good idea either as it interferes with the proper calcium-phosphorus ratio in our bodies. Also artificial sweeteners actually INCREASE our sugar cravings.

6. Cravings for sweets can also be caused by too little protein intake. Choose good sources of protein...lean meat such as fish, chicken, protein drinks, etc.

7. B-complex vitamins have been found to help curb the sugar cravings. Also make sure you are taking a good multivitamin.

8. Cinnamon has been found to be helpful in curbing sugar cravings.

9. Maybe try journaling what you eat and list the calories, carbs, proteins as well. Sometimes seeing it written down helps you do see where all of your calories are going and if your choices are good ones.

10. Get enough good fats in your diet. Studies are now indicating that good fats actually help decrease our food cravings and give us the necessary fat that our bodies need to function...nuts, avocadoes, coconut, nut butters, etc.

11. Get your veggies. If your body is receiving the right minerals and vitamins the cravings will become less.

12. Watch your sodium intake because it can cause sugar cravings we well.

13. Perhaps, you are one of those people who can satisfy their cravings with just a small portion, if so....do it, but if you are like me who could eat a whole bag of chocolate chip cookies in a day....then you might have to go 'cold turkey'.

14. For one month, track your expenditures on 'junk food' and see how much you could be saving by not eating it and where you could apply that money saved into your food budget.

15. Stevia is a natural and safe alternative to sugar. It comes in powdered or liquid and is very, very sweet so a little goes a long way.

16. Last but not least....everytime you buy something that is considered 'junk food' try to visualize what it is doing to your body on the inside. :):)

Hope somehow and in someway this is beneficial for you. :):)