Sugar is Poison

Sugar is becoming an increasing problem! Sugar is 99.6 per cent calories. It has no minerals, no vitamins, no protein, no antioxidants, no trace elements…. Nutritionists often refer to sugar (and refined foods) as empty calories.

However, a more suitable term would actually be “take-away” calories, because the body is forced to use up it’s own stores of vitamins and minerals in order to digest and metabolise these types of foods that are high in sugar. So when you eat sugar, you’re depleting your body of these vital nutrients.
Can the definition of poison really be applied to sugar? Poison is described in the dictionary as `A substance that injures or kills an organism` and is `destructive to health`.

It is widely documented that the amount of sugar the average person in Western societies obtains in his or her daily diet contributes to an immune system that is constantly operating below optimum levels. Sugar definitely damages health over time. It is well documented that sugar is the chief culprit in many diseases and degenerative conditions; it creates havoc with the immune system and contributes to diseases such as obesity, tooth decay, damage to the pancreas, premature aging, osteoporosis, hyperactivity in children and weakening of eyesight. It contributes to the risk of heart disease and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis - this in addition to a plethora of other effects.

Sugar is present in so many foods. A can of soda contains at least 10 teaspoons of sugar! And no, beer is not better than soft drinks. In fact, I often refer to alcohol as liquid sugar. In addition, alcohol damages your brain cells and is also toxic to your liver.

So what substitutes are there to sugar? There are now lots of artificial sweeteners on the market such as aspartame and saccharin (sold under brands like Sweet n’Low, NutraSweet and Canderelle), but I definitely do not recommend these. Studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may cause cancer and damage the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord, potentially causing lots of horrible symptoms and diseases. In addition, they increase appetite and hence are not a good idea if you are trying to lose weight!

Instead, my all time favourite substitute to sugar is Stevia. Stevia is the world’s only natural sweetener with zero calories. It does not raise blood sugar, nor cause any cavities. It is safe for everyone to use, including diabetics. It is harvested from a South American plant.

Indeed, native people in Paraguay and other parts of South America have used Stevia safely for centuries. More recently, Stevia gained popularity as a sweetener for coffees and teas, but it can sweeten just about anything you like. Because it works so well in cooking and baking, you can easily substitute stevia for sugar in just about any recipe. Just remember not to use too much as it is in fact 300 times sweeter than sugar!

Since Stevia has zero calories, and does not raise blood sugar (in fact, research suggests that it can actually help lower blood sugar), it is perfect for individuals who cannot or would not like to have their blood sugar fluctuate at rapid levels. This includes those with diabetes, hypo/hyperglycemia and anyone looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By helping to keep your blood sugar stable and allowing you to reduce your calorie intake, stevia can also be a significant contributor to any healthy weight loss plan.

Nutrition science supports this naturally sweet treat as a component of a healthy diet. The safety of stevia is well documented in over 200 published scientific studies. It does not appear to have any negative side effects. The herbal sweetener has been used for centuries in South America and is gradually finding its way into the homes of millions around the world. Stevia leaves contain numerous all-natural nutrients that help regulate blood sugar, including chromium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, zinc, and vitamin B3(Niacin). The components that makes Stevia so sweet, are known as Steviosides.

Stevia can be found as a powder, small tablets as well as in liquid form. What form you use will of course depend on the purpose you are using it for. For instance, I like to use the small tablets for my tea as they are easy to portion. However, if I am using stevia for my porridge or to bake, I prefer the powder or liquid.

As a final thought, consider that just like you’ve conditioned your taste buds to like very sweet things, you can likewise “un-condition” them, by slowly reducing the amount of sugar that you use. Try also using fruits to sweeten things. For instance, chop some banana and grate an apple and add it to your morning porridge, instead of digging into the sugar bowl



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