| lor: #ffffff;" /> | | | | such as processed and packaged foods. Sugar is |
| The average person in North America consumes 150 | | | | used as an additive in foods ranging from meat to |
| lbs of refined sugar per year! This is astronomical in | | | | ketchup to salt. In packaged foods sugar can take |
| contrast to the 5 lbs per year consumed by the | | | | the form of glucose, dextrose, sucrose, or the |
| average person at the turn of the 20th century. | | | | ever-present high-fructose corn syrup. |
| Sugar, especially in its refined state, has many | | | | The major concern is that sugar provides no real |
| detrimental effects on the body. First and foremost, | | | | nutritional value, while wreaking havoc on our blood |
| it is highly acid-forming. This means that sugar | | | | sugar levels (promoting diabetes and weight gain) and |
| consumption throws off your pH balance so that | | | | leading to excess caloric consumption. It suppresses |
| your blood and other important become more acidic. | | | | the immune system, disrupts normal mineral |
| The more acidic your body becomes, the greater the | | | | relationships, and compromises the health of our vital |
| likelihood for disease to flourish. It’s no | | | | organs. |
| wonder that research has linked sugar consumption | | | | If you’re a big sweet tooth and constantly |
| to cancer, hormonal disruptions, arthritis, | | | | seeking your next fix, then here a couple of |
| osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, cataracts, and many | | | | strategies that will help you from joining the |
| other degenerative diseases. | | | | “dark side”: |
| Refined sugar is one of the worst poisons you can | | | | •Use natural sweeteners such as agave, |
| put into your body. It is known to compromise the | | | | honey, or maple syrup if you must sweeten your |
| immune system response for between 4-6 hours, | | | | foods. Agave is probably best since it is a much |
| lowering the body’s natural defenses and | | | | lower glycemic index option, which is favourable for |
| making less capable of fighting harmful pathogens. | | | | maintaining normal blood sugar levels. |
| The manner in which sugar is processed exacerbates | | | | •When you get a sugar craving drink a big |
| the problem. More than 60 chemicals are used in the | | | | glass of water. Many times we have cravings for |
| processing of natural sugarcane’s thick beige | | | | unnecessary reasons such as being bored. Drinking a |
| stalks into the fine, white granular table sugar that | | | | tall glass of water can help curb this urge and |
| we’re all to familiar with. Many of these | | | | prevent you from making the choices that you will |
| chemicals, including bleaches and deodorizes, are still | | | | later regret. |
| present in the product. | | | | •Eat schizandra berries or take a schizandra |
| At same time, the naturally occurring minerals and | | | | supplement. This natural herb/berry helps restore |
| vitamins in the sugarcane plant are completely | | | | normal blood sugar levels and can help reduce the |
| removed. One such mineral is chromium. Chromium is | | | | need for sugar. |
| a critical player in the body’s ability to uptake | | | | •Supplement with chromium. Chromium is a |
| sugar from the blood and into the cells. The fact | | | | mineral that is often lacking in our foods (because |
| chromium is not present in refined sugar poses a | | | | everything is so refined). Supplementing with 200 |
| problem for sugar uptake and metabolism, which | | | | mcg/day of chromium can be immensely powerful at |
| imposes further stress on the body’s energy | | | | restoring normal blood sugar levels and ensuring |
| metabolism regulation. This is one of the reasons why | | | | proper sugar metabolism. |
| refined sugar causes a rapid spike and then crash in | | | | •Alkalize your body through lemon water and |
| blood sugar levels. | | | | green juices. As you alkalize your body, you purify |
| And it’s not just the refined table sugar that | | | | your blood. Since we often crave what is in our |
| is the problem. In fact, the majority of our sugar | | | | blood, it is necessary to cleanse the blood of excess |
| intake comes from hidden and unexpected sources | | | | sugar and acidic compounds. |