Source: Time |
This product damages liver, raises blood pressure and increases the risk of diabetes |
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Maybe you will not believe it, but we are talking about sugar.
We have already written several times about the harmful effects of sugar. This time a confirmation comes from the scientists.
Before sugar was considered harmful only because of its empty calories, but now scientists have discovered a number of harmful effects sugar has on our health.
According to scientists at the University of California, sugar is such a risk to human health that it should be treated as a hazardous substance, such as alcohol or drugs.
In an article published in the scientific journal Nature, by Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis are opposed to downplaying dangers of sugar.
"Sugar is anything but empty calories. There is an increasing number of scientific proofs that sugar promotes processes that lead to liver damage and many chronic diseases. "
It is not a big problem if you eat sugar occasionally, but the sugar is killing you slowly in larger quantities, said researchers from San Francisco, who argue that the greater the amount of sugar:
- cause liver damage
- raises blood pressure
- increases the risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease
- disrupts hormone system functions
- promotes obesity
According to the alarming information from the American Association for Heart Disease, the average American adult consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar every day. Children consume as much as 34 teaspoons of sugar daily!
In U.S., 17% of children are obese, and around the world sugar intake has tripled in the last 50 years.
Obesity is one of the reasons why 35 million people a year die from diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Poisonous regardless of calorific value
"There are good and bad calories, good and bad fats and good and bad carbohydrates. But sugar is toxic regardless of its caloric value, "said Robert Lustig, a pediatrician at the University of California.
Sugar affects human metabolic processes. Sugar changes our overall metabolism, raises blood pressure, disrupts hormone system performance and damages the liver - which is very similar to the impact of excessive alcohol consumption.
Of course, we should not forget that alcohol is nothing but sugar and distilled alcohol is produced from sugar.
Scientists have studied how sugar affects brain functions.
Research has confirmed that sugar triggers the same brain activity as drugs such as morphine or heroin.
Nobody argues that the power of sugar as powerful as drugs. However, this explains the symptoms which people with “sweet tooth” feel when they crave for candy.
Fizzy drinks are also dangerous. Liquid calories do not cause a feeling of satiety. You can drink large amounts of soda without noticing it. That explains a steady increase in consumption of sweet drinks in the world.
The biggest problem for all of us is irrational love we have for sweet. A bowl full of vegetables does not cause the same emotions like a bowl of chocolate or cake.
"Sugar has a cultural and ceremonial context, and changing those old behavioral patterns is the hardest part of the job," said scientist Claire Brindis.
"It is impossible to forbid sugar consumption, but it is possible to influence the minds of people and educate them about the hazards of excessive doses of sugar and make sugar-free foods more accessible to the average citizen."
What can replace sugar?
Brown sugar is often described as a healthy alternative to white sugar. But unfortunately this is not so: brown sugar is almost as unhealthy as white.
Is there a healthy alternative to sugar? Fortunately for us, there is!
Maple syrup is an excellent substitute for sugar. It has a high content of trace minerals such as zinc and manganese, which have beneficial effects on heart health and reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. The only disadvantage of maple syrup is its price.
Honey is another alternative to sugar. It is often presented as an ideal replacement for sugar, but this is controversial. People who do not tolerate sugar (allergies, hyperactivity) may also react to honey. Honey has a high glycemic index and affects the body like refined sugar. However, most people find it easier to digest honey than sugar.
Natural, non-pasteurized honey is rich in nutrients that kill bacteria and viruses, help digestion and reduce different types of allergies. Honey is sweeter than sugar and you need to use less of it.
Agave syrup is a natural sweetener derived from the South American cactus. It is often called "honey water" because it has a mild flavor and light color. It is not as dense as honey, but is sweeter and you need to use much less of agave syrup than honey. Agave syrup has an unusually low glycemic index, and virtually no effect on blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is ideal for diabetics and people sensitive to sugar.
Stevia - extract made of leaves of Stevia family, probably the best alternative to sugar. It is proved that stevia improves performance of the thyroid gland and whole body. Stevia has a slightly bitter taste, which is why some do not like it. When cooking, it takes a very small amount of Stevia - from ¼ to 1/32 the amount of sugar (depending on the type of stevia you use). Stevia is the main enemy of cavities and has almost 0 calories.
Goji berries contain a complex sugar, which was in clinical research proved to destroy tumor cells, improve vision, fight free radicals in the body, and strengthen the liver and pancreas.
Polysaccharides found in Goji berries are effective in weight loss, boost metabolism and provide natural sweetness, which perfectly replaces sugar.
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