©Michelle Jv Rensburg

FACTS ABOUT SUGAR

1. Sugar is not energy food

Several studies have proven the fact that refined sugars, that includes white, brown and caramelized sugars, are definitely not energy food but that they actually cause spikes and drops in blood sugar that interfere with your body’s delicate system of energy production causing fatigue rather than energy. (The only place where refined sugars play a role is when endurance athletes have used up all there available glucose stores.)

2. Sugar depresses immunity

This is a disconcerting fact that has been proven over and over again. Sugar decreases the ability of the white blood cells, or defense cells, to fight infection and even to fight of cancer. That is why refined sugar is a really bad idea for people with chronic infections like HIV/AIDS and people with cancer.

3. Sugar makes people depressed

To add insult to injury, sugar interferes with the important system of hormones that control how you feel. Sugar interferes with the normal functioning of the mood receptors in the brain preventing the real mood hormones from doing their job. Combine this with caffeine which has a similar effect and you have depression in a cup.

4. Sugar causes an overload syndrome

Your pancreas, which produces the important blood glucose regulating hormone ‘insulin’, becomes overloaded when you eat food that contains sugar and that can be a cause of many health problems (such as diabetes and heart disease). These diseases can manifest at any age, so don’t think you’re too young to develop problems as a result of sugar abuse.

WHAT TO REPLACE SUGAR WITH:
Stevia

This amazing plant is 30 times sweeter than sugar and is a very safe substitute for sugar

Fructose

I'm not too crazy about pure fructose as a solution. Taking too much fructose can cause fat accumulation in your liver and make you fat. If you do want to use it use VERY little.

Raw natural honey

Make sure you use honey in moderation as well and that it’s pure, raw honey. South African honeys have a very good reputation for their purity

Xylitol

This extract from birch trees is probably one of the best sugar substitutes and it has a host of health benefits!