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Did you know we were born to like sugar?
According to WebMD doctors used to treat the problem of excessive amniotic fluid by injecting a sweet substance into the liquid. The appealing taste would prompt the fetus to swallow more fluid which then took care of the excessive fluid problem.
So it seems as fetuses we already have a desire to consume sweets.
According to Mercola.com the single largest source of calories for Americans comes from sugar.
In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 lbs of sugar per year.
In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 lbs per year.
In 1900, the average person consumed about 90 lbs per year.
In 2009, more than 50% of all Americans consume 1/2 lb of sugar per day, or 180 lbs per year.
Sugar is loaded into almost all processed foods, even baby formula.
If you are going to eat processed foods take time to read the labels. You may be surprised at the amount of sugar you are getting in things that you wouldn't even expect to find sugar in.
You will be much better off if you chose to avoid all processed foods. By really cutting down on processed foods you will be able to eliminate lots of sugar from your diet.
Some experts consider sugar a poison.
My husband and I were noticing that everywhere we go we see so many large people anymore. I know there are many more highly overweight people than when I was young.
If you look at the increase in sugar intake you will probably see the reason for the increased obesity problem in the United States. When I was visiting England and Germany a few months ago, I was told that they are increasing in the number of obese people at a high rate. I would bet that their sugar intake has increased over the last few decades too.
If you can't eliminate sugar from your diet, as some people say they can't totally give up sweets, then you need to cut back. I noticed that foods when I was in France did not taste nearly as sweet, but had more flavors. French people seem to eat many more fresh fruits and vegetables and not so much in the way of processed foods. I also noticed that in France, most of the French people were slender.
Sugar seems to be toxic to me, personally. I have a large amount of sugar recently after not having consumed very much for a while and the reaction of my body was not good. I felt fatigued, headachy, bloated, and I had really bad indigestion. Those are some of the things I had been having and hadn't even realized that without sugar I wasn't having them. It didn't take long for them to come back when I made a choice to eat sugar last week.
I am going to plan to stay away from sugar in the future.
Does this information make you think about your own sugar consumption?
Will you continue to consume sugar?
Will you cut out processed foods and learn to eat more natural foods?
I plan to visit the local farm markets and to eat healthy. How about you?
I am 58, overweight again, and trying to get healthy. I am blogging about weight loss and everyday issues for women. My blog will include ramblings about the daily life of a mother, grandmother, wife and friend. I would love to have you come along for the ride!
Good job, Betty! Sugar is most definitely toxic! To everyone, whether they want to 'own' that, or not! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, everything I am reading tells me that it is. Maybe when I learn enough it will turn me off of it forever!
DeleteI don't eat sugar and haven't for nearly two years. I don't eat processed foods either. When in Europe last year I was amazed at how "normal" everyone was weight wise. One thing I have noticed during my trips to USA is the sweetness of the food there. Far more sweet than here in New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to say I haven't eaten sugar for two years, when the time comes. I guess it is possible if you are doing it!!
DeleteOur food is so sweet and it just keeps us wanting more sugar. They put sugar in everything. That's why we need to get away from all the processed foods. That and the fact that they are mostly very unhealthy!
Great post! I've got one on sugar coming up on Friday. I find the stats from sugar consumption throughout the years very interesting. Of course, several hundred years ago they did not have mass transit, fake sugar, chemically processed foods, etc. They were also much more active than we are.
ReplyDeleteSugar in and of itself is not evil, but I too choose to limit my consumption of added sugars and eat a diet based on real foods!
I feel so much better when I eat real foods. I don't know why I can't seem to stick with it all the time. That is what I am working on now.
DeleteI can't wait to read your post on Friday!!
mmm tastes so good but so bad hey?
ReplyDeleteive found that if i eat a lot of sugar now i get really really itchy skin, not sure why. cute picture by the way :-)
Maybe the itchy skin has something to do with the toxicity. It does taste good.
Deletebut I am not eating it anymore.
This is a great post, Betty! Like you, I have cut back on the sugar, mainly because of Doctors orders. I cannot eat any processed foods at all and I now realize it was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
ReplyDeleteWhat I didnt' realize was the stats! Yikes, that is scary!
Thanks Linda! I wish the doctor would tell me I can't eat them and then it wouldn't be such a struggle.
DeleteYes the stats are scary!
I think the less sugar you consume, the less you want. I like it from time to time, but nothing overzealous. ;)
ReplyDeleteYes I think you are right! I just can't seem to eat any without wanting more.
DeleteI love sugar, but rarely have it. I'm in my 60s and it's not something my doctor wants me to have. Bugger.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. ☺
I will be going into my 60's before too long. My doctor hasn't said much except that I need to lose a few pounds. He would be happy because I have lost some since my last visit. I am going to eliminate sugar before he tells me to.
DeleteThanks Sandee!
Betty,
ReplyDeleteLove the honesty of your blog. AWESOME title!
Thanks for coming over and leaving a nice com on ym son;s guest post at my blog ( balloon-ing)
Take care and good luck! I am looking fwd to more of your posts...will be following!
I really enjoyed your son's post, so cute! Thanks for the blog compliments!
DeleteThis post is seriously disappointing, because I have a sweet tooth! =(
ReplyDeleteAnd like you, I am a mother of four - now trying to lose some weight...It ain't easy!
Thanks for this eye-opener. Next time I feel like a scoop of ice cream, I'm going to remember the fact about 1/2 pound of sugar per day (whoa!!!).
~Kim
www.2justByou.com
I need this information to keep me working on my weight!
DeleteThe thing is, whether it is actually sugar or not - many foods process it and turn it into sugar. I am blessed not to have a sweet tooth - mostly it is a chocolate addiction for me. I haven't had much sugar since Dec so I'm doing well. I do love to bake and love chocolate chip cookies. I haven't had any since Christmas. I don't see me giving up chocolate chip cookies at all.
ReplyDeleteProcessed foods just aren't healthy. Chocolate Chip Cookies are hard to give up. I hope I have given them up for good!
DeleteI'm not much of a sweets person but yeah its everywhere and the worst of the worst is High Fructose corn syrup and that stuff is in EVERYTHING. I'm constantly checking labels to keep this stuff out of my kids diet.
ReplyDeleteI try to limit the amount of sugar in our house. The biggest thing is to not buy anything pre-packaged. It is full of sugar and salt. I cook everything from scratch (literally everything). This allows me to control what I put into my body :)
ReplyDeleteSweet is good...too much of anything good is bad!
ReplyDeleteReading the labels on a lot of foods is eye opening and sometimes terrifying! I love sweets and could live on them. I know, terrible! I am making changes, slowly but surely.
ReplyDelete