White Sugar- Is it an angel or a slow killing poison?
Why we have more frequent illness in the last 50 years than our parents or grandparents, despite all the medical advancements? Are we consuming more medicines than our grandparents? There is a reason or reasons behind everything. Is increased sugar consumption a reason behind it? Fifty years back there was only very few who used white sugar. But now it is almost all people use sugar. We currently feel sweet is sweet, but we never know it turns into bitter later.
If we go to any grocery or supermarket we may be able to observe that most of the foods contain sugar. From childhood we are habituated or rather addicted to sweetness. On a global level we are all addicted to sweetness.
If we go to any grocery or supermarket we may be able to observe that most of the foods contain sugar. From childhood we are habituated or rather addicted to sweetness. On a global level we are all addicted to sweetness.
Only very few have gone deep to learn the damage it creates on the body. Sugar depletes the multivitamins and minerals from our body. It makes thousands obese, because it is the zero-nutrient and high-calorie food, also known as calorie bomb. This depletion affects our immunity, and we are prone to frequent illness.
Is white sugar a food?
No. It is the only so called "food" that contains only calories and no nutrients or fibre. It is the creation of colonial countries in the late 16th century and spread across the globe through the colonies. It has spread on global level in the last fifity years. Later it has been found one of the best means of commercial exploitation and business in the food industry. In Kerala many people know Pulikeezhu sugar factory,(Thiruvella) started by British. It is now closed.
Thousands of people are becoming diabetic, by increased blood sugar when they eat more sugar. More sugar makes people lethargic and damage the nervous system. A recent research has proved refined sugar which is mostly without chromium can elevate serum cholesterol and glucose levels. Chromium can lower both.
My friend is a tennis player. He likes sweet. His wife frequently made sweet rice pudding (payasam) as local dessert after the lunch. After 5 years of this food pattern he became diabetic at a young age. The wife was unaware of the danger of sugar. There are many people in the world who don't know the danger of white sugar.
Why thousands of children suffering from tooth-decay? Sugar present in almost all children's favorite foods, chocolates, colas, cakes etc. leads to tooth decay.
Every day sugar indirectly creates a multimillion dollar business for the health industry: supplement manufacturers, weight loss programs, pharmaceuticals and hospital industry.
People who are sick, obese, diabetics etc. are unaware, because unknowingly they are slaves to their tongues. Sugar is considered good for the tongue but in reality it is bad for the body.
By seeing the danger in 2003 UN- World Health Organization warned the sugar content in food should not exceed more than 10%. A decade later nothing has changed. Recently I visited a supermarket in Vancouver. The following table tells the sugar content of food we eat.
Sugar content in food
Foods
|
UN warning on sugar content %
|
Actual sugar%
|
Muffin (cup cake)
|
10
|
25.6
|
Cake
|
10
|
26
|
Colas
|
10
|
12
|
Chocolates
|
10
|
25 to 66
|
If we analyze the sweets like ladu, jilebi, rasagula etc sold without food labels in the unorganized sweet shops the sugar content may be between 25% to 50% or even more.
Sugar content may be more in USA because their sugar level is higher in almost all foods. Even the food portions like pizza, hot dog, burgers and colas are larger in size. Snacks are supersized and super sweet. It is appreciable that New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg has recently taken a step to reduce the size of cola drinks to trim down the waistline and obesity in New Yorkers. In 2012 Bloomberg passed a law banning sale of colas more than 16 ounces large.
In India, it is unfortunate white sugar is still subsidized by Government Food program, leading to a diabetes epidemic. Sugar is extensively used in almost all foods especially children’s foods. Sugar-filled children’s food will create an addiction to sugar at a later stage and make the life miserable. In Canada the health department don't encourage to add sugar in the children's diet. In India food label does not contain sugar content.
In his book “Enzyme Nutrition” Dr. Edward Howell, a nutrition scientist describes how white sugar affects the body.
Reduce sugar in every meal we take. Avoid keeping sweet food at home. Eat a fruit in place of sweet. Recently I read in health magazine, a lady who avoided sugar for 2.5 months reduced her weight by 22 pounds. Avoid sugar in coffee and tea. Avoid sugar for some period of time: a week, a month or a year and observe the difference in your health. You will say I should have done it before. A little change can save your vital organs.
Awareness is our best way against disease and corporate marketing. Parents, schools, and colleges have a role to play in keeping the health of the children, youth and adults. Educate our children. Make them an asset and not liability with illness. We are highest of all creations. Our crown remains with us as long as we are healthy. We are born to educate each other and save our community from sickness.
If you feel you are addicted, build your mental muscle by meditation. Sit on meditation pose in a quiet place for five minutes to 15 minutes daily. Do deep breathing. Repeat chanting "God, give me the mental power to say 'No' to sugar". Imagine and say 'my body is important than my tongue'. Afterwards keep the affirmation "I am prepared and ready to avoid/reduce white sugar". Repeat for 3 to 4 weeks. You will get the mental power.
Paul Ryan, American Vice President Candidate (year 2012) , Romney’s running mate said “I don’t eat sweets” “I am a workout guy.” He stopped taking sweets at the age of 15, because in his family all his parents and grandparents died in their 50’s due to multiple health problems. Like him there are thousands of people who don't use sweet or white sugar for a healthy lifestyle.
It is not only white sugar, fructose used in drinks made in US "may be bad for the brain" 'Psychology today' October 2012 edition. "Sugary drinks are linked to staggering 180,000 deaths each year" A recent (2012) Harvard university study. See the blog on that.
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| This is an advertisement campaign initiated by New York State to make awareness on obesity caused by sugary drinks. |
You might know the beautiful story of a lady who approached Gandhi to tell her son not to eat sugar. A young boy was obsessed with sugar. He had frequent illness. The mother was upset and approached Gandhi to tell him not to take sugar. Gandhi told her I will tell him after two weeks. The mother and son revisited Gandhi after two weeks. Gandhi told him not to take sugar, because it is not good for your health. The boy promised he will stop eating sugar. The mother was puzzled. "Bapu, why you did not tell him in the first time we visited you." Gandhi smiled, and told the mother “two weeks ago I was eating lot of sugar”. If Gandhi could control in two weeks you may require three weeks. Within two weeks or three weeks you can create a new healthy lifestyle without sugar. Changing lifestyle is better to save life.
“The man who is temperate in food and recreation, who practices restraint in his actions, acquires self-discipline which removes sorrow.” Bhagavad Gita, verse 17 Ch 6.
I wish you to be a healthy and happy person.
I wish you to be a healthy and happy person.
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