Sugar Danger

Even though many people may consider it harmless because it has become a staple of the average American diet, sugar is a much bigger problem than what it may appear on the surface. More and more health issues are being attributed to the overconsumption of sugar in our diets, most notably with diabetes at the forefront (which is still prevalent in epidemic proportion). It doesn’t help that producers of sugar-laden items such as sodas are adding to the problem by trying to disguise the truth that it is a major contributing factor to many health issues. Take this excerpt from a Yahoo! Health news article posted this week:

The Coca-Cola Company has identified the culprit behind America’s weight problem: You don’t exercise enough. (!) The world’s largest producer of soda is pouring money into a nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance Network, a research group with the mission of proving that our diets have little to do with our obesity crisis. The group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, PED, an exercise scientist, claims that “there’s really virtually no compelling evidence” that eating fatty foods and drinking sugary beverages causes weight gain. Instead, the fact that 2 out of 3 Americans is overweight or obese is just proof that we’re not working hard enough in the gym, he says.

I have to admit that I was almost speechless when I read this to think that with the overwhelming amount of research and information out there that points to the many detrimental effects of sugar on our bodies, someone with a scientific degree could speak as though none of that evidence exists. But then, when it comes to the commercial sector, you always have to remember to follow the money trail. Corporations that produce products like these do not have your best health interests in mind. Their bottom line as a business is to make a profit. That being said, the caveat of “don’t believe everything you read” should come to mind when reading quotes such as the one above.

We many never know the extent to which our health is being undermined by others who are in control of what is available to the general public for consumption. With sugar as an example, it appears that the dangers of excess sugar in our diets has been a concern for several decades. A documentary titled “The Secrets of Sugar” tells the story of how the food industry has known for decades about the links between a processed food diet and disease occurrence. However, with resources in the amount of billions of dollars, large corporations can hide or make this information obscure by undermining science, intimidating scientists, and subverting public health policy. To some that may sound like a conspiracy theory, but when there are repeated incidents of this occurring that come to light in various industries (food/agriculture, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, etc.), it makes it seem more viable that we may not be getting sold the clearest picture on whether products available to the general public could really be classified as “safe” or “harmless”.

The problem with sugar is that it is a known producer of inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation in the body will make you feel tired. Chronic inflammation from excess sugar consumption will make your joints ache when you wake up in the morning, even though you haven’t really done anything physically stressful with your body. From a diagnostic standpoint, consuming too much sugar is one contributing factor to elevated blood sugars on our glucose and hemoglobin A1c labs when you get your blood drawn. These elevated sugar levels will promote inflammation in our blood vessels, which is more of a risk factor for cardiovascular disease than your level of cholesterol (as it actually contributes to the cholesterol and triglycerides being elevated!). And if inflammation continues to persist, it can also increase your risk of developing an autoimmune condition or cancer.

Bottom line? Be aware of how much sugar you are putting into your body. Just because a food is packaged as “healthy”, don’t be misled into believing that it always is. Learn to read and understand food labels. Many processed “diet” foods have removed fat from their content only to be replaced with added sugar. And you may be surprised to find many foods that you are currently eating or drinking that have more sugar in them than you would have imagined. Part of making smart choices for your health is being informed about what you are putting into your body. If it all seems confusing or overwhelming to you, please use us as a resource to help you better understand how to minimize your risk of sugar overload and keep your body healthy.

In Health,

Dr. Brad Niewierowski

Source: Sugar Industry Secrets Exposed.  Mercola.com  July 25, 2015