Poison - Another Word for Sugar

Sugar is that white crystalline substance used to sweeten everything from food and drinks to table salt and antibiotics. Sparkling with enticement, the more processed sugar we ingest, the more we seem to crave. Sounds like a drug doesn't it? Sugar seems to have the same properties as a drug in the fact that it is addictive, has the ability to cause mood swings, and causes withdrawal symptoms; just like a drug. For these reasons, it should probably be classified as a drug because processed sugar is one of the most dangerous and deadly ingredients of the American diet.

Processed sugar. What is processed sugar? People tend to think of sugar as one of nature's natural ingredients, ground in the same manner as flour or corn meal. Sugar is a natural plant substance coming from sugarcane and sugar beet. While sugar in its natural form of glucose is an essential nutrient for the central nervous system, processed sugar is a result of taking raw sugar, purifying it with phosphoric acid and filtering it in a process using activated carbon or bone char. If this process does not eliminate color imperfections, a bleaching process using sulfur dioxide is used to render a perfectly white product.

Our bodies were not designed to process these refined, altered sugars. That's why it's important to know the different names used to disguise processed sugar on product labels. Basically, any word ending in 'ose', 'rose', or 'ol' (sugar alcohols), is going to be sugar. Some examples are: sucrose, lactose, maltose, dextrose, fructose, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol and maltitol.

Sugar in its natural form is found in almost every fruit and vegetable that we eat. Our bodies were designed to be the 'processor' of natural sugar. Most every manufactured food on the supermarket shelf contains refined sugar, unless it's certified organic. The difference between natural sugar and refined sugar can best be illustrated in the comparison of a candy bar (refined sugars) and an apple (natural sugars). One candy bar contains the same amount of sugar as three pounds of apples; note that it's not three apples, it's three pounds of apples!

It is estimated that the average American consumes as much as a half a pound of sugar each day. This is approximately 180 pounds of sugar each year! One of the primary products Americans consume that is loaded with sugar, is soft drinks. One soft drink typically contains up to 11 teaspoons of sugar. Since ¼ pound of sugar is equal to 30 teaspoons, three soft drinks each day would be consuming over ¼ pound of sugar a day!

If what you've read so far hasn't changed your thinking about sugar. Read the 'Sugar Can' list.

Sugar reduces the body's defense against bacterial infections.

Sugar can cause hyperactivity.

Sugar suppresses the immune system.

Sugar can cause anxiety.

Sugar will produce migraine headaches.

Sugar can cause difficulty concentrating.

Sugar has the ability to impair the structure of DNA.

Sugar can lead to kidney damage.

Sugar counterbalances the absorption of protein.

Sugar can create an abnormal rise in triglycerides.

Sugar leads to cancer.

Sugar can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Sugar affects the eyesight.

Sugar causes abnormal increases in serotonin.

Sugar can cause arthritis.

Sugar causes candida.

Sugar creates gallstones.

Sugar causes heart disease.

Sugar can cause toxemia.

Sugar negatively impacts cholesterol levels.

Sugar can cause cataracts.

Sugar leads to emphysema.

Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.

Sugar prompts overeating.

And remember, this is not a comprehensive list, it goes on and on.

Now maybe you're thinking sugar isn't such a good thing. One additional thing you need to know: avoid sugar substitutes. They are just as bad, if not worse. But that's a whole new topic.

"Recipes for Life from God's Garden", by Rhonda J. Malkmus.