Are we slowing slowly poisoning ourselves and our children?
We, as a nation, have been passing through the supermarket perpetuating another generation of dental decay, obesity, weakened bones, diabetes, hyperactivity, emotional imbalance and dysfunctional immune systems. We must ask why we consume this poison, and why we give this poison to our children.
This substance could be categorized as a poison and an addictive drug rather than a food. This substance has no nutritional value. When it is consumed it actually robs nutrients from the body, particularly, the teeth and bones. This substance requires the body to need more nutrients than would otherwise be needed without consuming it. This substance is addictive like a drug, can cause drastic mood swings (hyperactivity to depression) and has withdrawal symptoms like a drug.
Because this substance is added to the vast majority of all processed foods, this becomes a health problem for people of all ages, but children are the one group with the reputation for being addicted and affected by it most severely.
What is this substance? It is sugar. Sugar is sucrose that is a compound carbohydrate made up of glucose and fructose. It is put in almost all processed foods. Sugar when ingested causes the pancreas to secrete the powerful hormone insulin to help regulate the blood sugar. It feeds the bacteria in our mouth that increase the acids, which pull the calcium and phosphate out of the enamel of our teeth. So the sugar causes many systemic problems as well as tooth decay.
The average American consumes one third of a pound of sugar per day. The main reason American sugar consumption continues to increase is we are eating more processed foods with sugar added. Many breakfast cereals are about half sugar. Colas have up to 11 teaspoons of sugar and the sport drinks are just as bad.
We, as individuals, need to take control of our diets. We must limit or eliminate sugar from our diets or face the long term consequences. We must stop making our children addicts of this powerful drug.
There are two excellent books that can help educate and motivate you to control your Sugar input--"Sugar Blues" and "Sugar Busters."