As all my friends and clients know, I have had some minor health issues since the holidays. I'm happy to report that I am 120% better! A lot of this has to do with the reduction of sugars in my diet. Thank you so much to Path For Life! Here's my lastest nutiriton update...
Sugar Me Up.
Back in 2004 a panel was discussing if sugar should be categorized as a health hazard. It is now 2008 and there is still no health warning on your food! Sugar is actually disguised by multiple names so that you will have a hard time figuring out just how much you are ingesting.
Sugar CAN hurt you - in case you were still wondering!
Most researchers believe the evidence is strong enough to issue warnings on food labels about its sugar content. "The consumption of added sugars and a deficiency of nutrient intake is pretty strong," said Dr. Rachel Johnson. A study showed that people who got more than 18 percent of their calories from added sugars had "the least adequately nutritious diets," well below government recommended levels for many nutrients, compared with two other groups in the study, one of which consumed less than 10 percent of calories from added sugars, the other 10 to 18 percent.
Still, those words are in the fine print, which usually doesn't reach the public. The other parties lobby away: The Sugar Association, the Soft Drink Association and the National Food Processors Association are hoping it stays in the fine print. "We think there is too much emphasis on sugars. Sugars are just a part of the diet. There is no negative health impact for sugar; there never has been," they say.
Pleeeaaaasssseeee. we now know why it is not getting any better. People are not reading the lables! You have to take matters into your own hands and READ THE LABELS.
THIS IS WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON LABELS:
1. The content on labels is listed in the order of how much is in it; from greatest to least.
2. Sugar will be mentioned some times up to 5 times on a label under different names.
3. These are at least 25 names for "sugars" and sweeteners. Some examples. Brown sugar for example is just glorified white sugar, basically it is brown because caramel coloring is added. Corn syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup are the most harmful. Artificial sweeteners are not a good idea to substitute as they are highly toxic for the body.
What is understood as cane sugar can be called any of these names beyond white or brown sugar. Turbinado, molasses, karo syrup, sorghum, “sucanat”, splenda, evaporated cane juice, or any sugar cane or sugar beet product. High Fructose Corn Syrup is also made from sugar beet sucrose, and is a sugar.
The following are not considered "sugar" and are better choices: honey, pure maple sugar or syrup, barley malt, or rice syrup. A pure fructose is a natural fruit sugar and can be used with fruit foods or you may try date sugar. Pure fructose is from fruit and dextrose is from potato.
Maltodextrin can be derived from any starch. In the US, this starch is usually rice, corn or potato; elsewhere, such as in Europe, it is commonly wheat. This is important for celiacs, since the wheat-derived maltodextrin can contains gluten.
DO NOT USE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS, SUCH AS SACCHARINE OR NUTRA-SWEET. Saccharine has been proven in studies to be a cancer-causing agent. Nutra-sweet, also know as Equal or Aspartame breaks down into wood alcohol in the body, causing nerve damage and degeneration.
What I always suggest is - get your sweetness in life from all the wonderful people and events you have in your life, eat good quality naturally sweet foods such as carrots, beets, and wholegrain. You are much sweeter and healthier already. That is the best way to sugar you up.
Enjoy and best of health,
Jeanette
Path for Life Self-Nourishment Center, NYC
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