The Real Dangers of Sugar

Dr Harold W. Harper, M.D,
How You Can Beat the Killer Diseases
“The major addiction problem in the United States and, to a large extent, in the Western world, has nothing to do with opiates, uppers, and downers, or even alcohol or tobacco. The number one addiction today is sugar.”

It's positively maddening to try and understand how to eat healthy today. Proponents of all kinds of varying diets shout at each other over the interwebs, citing research to support their stance, leaving the neutral health seeking person at a loss. Paleo, low-carb, raw food, vegan, juicing, vegetarian, gluten free, grain free, keto, organic, non-GMO....

They all, however, have at least one thing in common. They all desperately try to educate the general public about the dangers of sugar. Specifically, refined sugar, or unnatural sugars such as high fructose corn syrup.

They are all right to do so. Let’s talk about sugar.

The more we know about it, the worse it gets. We know its evils. Sugar causes everything from chronic inflammation to tooth decay to obesity. It contributes to depression, ADHD, insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic dysfunction, fatty liver, cancer, and hormone imbalances. Despite our valiant efforts to come off of it, we are relentlessly caught in its addictive, tasty clutches. Sugar is in everything. EVERYTHING! It’s in sushi. It’s in bread. It’s in many dairy products. Coffee creamer. Peanut butter.

The quest to avoid sugar becomes further complicated when we find that sugar is even in “health foods” – those that are designed to appeal to the very population that is trying to be healthy and lose weight!

Weight loss is a herculean effort these days that is many times destroyed by even moderate sugar consumption, so let’s talk briefly about what makes you fat. Insulin is the fat producing hormone. That means anything that goes into your body interacts with your biology in such a way that it causes insulin to rise, produces fat.

What is the primary cause of insulin spikes? Sugar.

To lose weight and be healthy, you decide you’re going to stay away from sugar.  Be aware: this may prove to be a bit more difficult than you may think.  Not only is sugar difficult to avoid in most foods found at the grocery store, it is highly addictive, as mentioned in the quote at the top of this post.  (http://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/experts-is-sugar-addictive-drug )

To aid in many healing many health conditions, and of course to lose weight, many recommend a sugar detox of some kind. There is no “safe” or “innocent” amount of sugar, period.  At the very least, cutting down on sugar intake significantly will go a long way toward reducing those incessant cravings, and it will greatly improve the state of your health.  

It is not at all uncommon to experience detox symptoms as you cut out sugar, since it has addictive qualities. Having a detox buddy if possible will keep you accountable.  I have accountability groups starting every month.  AND/OR you can ask a friend, spouse, or partner to do it with you.    

Focus on what you CAN eat rather than what you CAN’T.  If your goal is to be healthy, a paradigm shift toward the way you approach food is a good way to start. Eat to live rather than live to eat. Remember, you can be skinny and unhealthy.  

Finally, if you decide to detox from sugar and you slip up, pick yourself up by your bootstraps and let the next decision you make THAT DAY be a better one. Health is an ongoing process, not a one-time deal.