In the early 1900s, in America, the average family consumed 5 pounds of sugar per year. Now, the average person consumes approximately 120 pounds of sugar per year.
Sugar is an anti-nutrient offering insignificant amounts of vitamins and minerals while robbing your body of precious nutrient stores. High glycemic or refined sugars caused elevated glucose, which elevates and some leading to premature aging and degenerative diseases. Refined sugar lowers immune system functioning bus making a person more susceptible to sickness. This is evidently lead to diseases of the new millennium such as chronic fatigue, ADD, ADHD autism spectrum disorders, heart disease and diabetes and cancers.
One third of the average American sugar intake comes from soft drinks (one can of soft drinks has approximately 9 to 11 teaspoons of sugar in it) the other two thirds comes from hidden sources such as pizza, sausage, bread, soup, crackers, fruit drinks, canned foods, Gilbert, catch up, mayonnaise, luncheon meats, etc.. Refined sugar also promotes excess yeast growth.
Here are a few ways that sugar can affect a person’s health.
- Suppresses the immune system.
- Decreases neurotransmitter communication in the brain.
- Promotes inflammation in the body.
- Upsets the body’s mineral balance.
- Causes hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties and crankiness.
- Causes drowsiness and decreased activity.
- Causes kidney damage.
- Can weaken eyesight.
- Can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
- Can cost thousands.
- Can cause candida.
- Can change the structure of protein causing interference with protein absorption.
- Causes food allergies.
- Can impair the structure of DNA.
- Can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
- Increases the amount of fat in the liver.
- Can cause constipation.
- Can cause hypertension.
- Can cause headaches, including migraines.
- Can alter the mind’s ability to think clearly.
- Can cause depression.
- Can cause hormonal imbalance.
- Increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Can lead to formation of kidney stones.
- Can lead to dizziness.
- It is an addictive substance.
Well that’s okay. I’ll just drink diet sodas and eat sugar-free junk food !
Well, you need to read my blog post on artificial sweeteners.
Dr. Phil Paulk
The Paulk Clinic
