Refined sugar began to be manufactured on a large scale in England in the 1800s.
At that time, the average Englishman consumed about seven and a half pounds of sugar per year.
Today, the average American consumes over 200 pounds of sugar per year.
That's more than half a pound of sugar a day! This isn't just white table sugar we put into our coffee every morning.
This represents the sugar in all forms that is used to preserve and sweeten foods.
Interestingly, low fat and no fat foods...
those we may choose because we think they are healthy choices...
contain a lot of sugar.
Sugar is hidden in various forms in most of the foods we consume.
Even foods labeled as "sugar free" contain sugar.
All of this sugar has created the biggest addiction problem in America.
We are a nation of sugar junkies.
Our sugar addictions are killing us as sure as heroin, crack or meth addictions are killing our citizens.
Excess sugar consumption leads to fatigue, irritability, concentration difficulties, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Sugar intake often leads to overweight or obesity problems which in turn often lead to diabetes.
The deadly cycle sugar perpetuates in creating diabetes hinges on insulin, the hormone that regulates the transport of glucose in the blood.
A person eats a large amount of sugar.
In response, the pancreas produces extra insulin.
A life habit of eating too much sugar causes the insulin production to go into overdrive and eventually shut down.
This leaves excess sugar in the blood which causes damage to various body parts such as the kidneys and eyes.
If you find your resolution to lose weight isn't going anywhere, consider changing your focus to reducing your sugar intake.
Cutting back or eliminating obvious sugars is the easiest step.
o Use artificial sweeteners or complex sugars in place of table sugar.
o Eliminate sweetened cereals, sweet rolls, toaster pastries, donuts, etc.
at breakfast.
o Give up sweetened sodas, teas, juice drinks, and energy drinks.
o Replace sugary desserts and snacks with whole foods like fruit or yogurt.
Looking for hidden sugars in your daily diet is the next step and can be the most challenging.
This is where a lot of people stop making changes.
However changing our diets at this level will show the greatest results.
o If you do have a need to use sugar, avoid refined white sugar.
Try using more complex sugars that take longer to break down in the body such as that derived from the Stevia herb.
o Replace white rice with brown rice.
As you get used to the change, start adding wild rice blends to give flavor variety and increase the fiber content.
o Stop eating white breads, including buns, rolls, and French bread.
Start with 100% whole wheat breads.
These contain whole grains which increase fiber and take longer to digest.
o Cut back on pastas.
Limit portion sizes.
Try adding whole wheat versions to start out.
There are many additional changes that can be made to reduce sugar intake.
All carbohydrates, including fruit, vegetables, and starches, will break down into simple sugars.
Processed foods will break down more quickly than fresh, whole foods.
The most important principle to keep in mind for success is to make one change at a time.
Gradual changes in lifestyle are the changes that are more likely to last a lifetime.
At that time, the average Englishman consumed about seven and a half pounds of sugar per year.
Today, the average American consumes over 200 pounds of sugar per year.
That's more than half a pound of sugar a day! This isn't just white table sugar we put into our coffee every morning.
This represents the sugar in all forms that is used to preserve and sweeten foods.
Interestingly, low fat and no fat foods...
those we may choose because we think they are healthy choices...
contain a lot of sugar.
Sugar is hidden in various forms in most of the foods we consume.
Even foods labeled as "sugar free" contain sugar.
All of this sugar has created the biggest addiction problem in America.
We are a nation of sugar junkies.
Our sugar addictions are killing us as sure as heroin, crack or meth addictions are killing our citizens.
Excess sugar consumption leads to fatigue, irritability, concentration difficulties, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Sugar intake often leads to overweight or obesity problems which in turn often lead to diabetes.
The deadly cycle sugar perpetuates in creating diabetes hinges on insulin, the hormone that regulates the transport of glucose in the blood.
A person eats a large amount of sugar.
In response, the pancreas produces extra insulin.
A life habit of eating too much sugar causes the insulin production to go into overdrive and eventually shut down.
This leaves excess sugar in the blood which causes damage to various body parts such as the kidneys and eyes.
If you find your resolution to lose weight isn't going anywhere, consider changing your focus to reducing your sugar intake.
Cutting back or eliminating obvious sugars is the easiest step.
o Use artificial sweeteners or complex sugars in place of table sugar.
o Eliminate sweetened cereals, sweet rolls, toaster pastries, donuts, etc.
at breakfast.
o Give up sweetened sodas, teas, juice drinks, and energy drinks.
o Replace sugary desserts and snacks with whole foods like fruit or yogurt.
Looking for hidden sugars in your daily diet is the next step and can be the most challenging.
This is where a lot of people stop making changes.
However changing our diets at this level will show the greatest results.
o If you do have a need to use sugar, avoid refined white sugar.
Try using more complex sugars that take longer to break down in the body such as that derived from the Stevia herb.
o Replace white rice with brown rice.
As you get used to the change, start adding wild rice blends to give flavor variety and increase the fiber content.
o Stop eating white breads, including buns, rolls, and French bread.
Start with 100% whole wheat breads.
These contain whole grains which increase fiber and take longer to digest.
o Cut back on pastas.
Limit portion sizes.
Try adding whole wheat versions to start out.
There are many additional changes that can be made to reduce sugar intake.
All carbohydrates, including fruit, vegetables, and starches, will break down into simple sugars.
Processed foods will break down more quickly than fresh, whole foods.
The most important principle to keep in mind for success is to make one change at a time.
Gradual changes in lifestyle are the changes that are more likely to last a lifetime.