You may wish to put the sugar down

I don't think there is any controversy about the fact that sugar is not good for you. But do you know WHY sugar is bad for you?

The artificial sweetener market seems to focus on alternative sweeteners for weight control or blood sugar issues like diabetes, but rarely is there information about how sugar lowers your immunity and robs your bones of minerals.

And just as important, there is little information on healthy alternatives for sweeteners. In fact, you DO NOT have to turn to artificial sweeteners for sweet tastes. Not only do artificial sweeteners harm your health, they also have adverse effects your efforts at staying slim.1

THE IMPORTANCE OF SWEET TASTES

At Body Ecology, we understand how important the sweet taste is in your diet. As explained in Ayurveda (a system of natural medicine which originated in India several thousand years ago), there are six tastes: salty, bitter, sour, pungent, astringent and sweet.

Ayurvedic medicine says that taste is a way to higher consciousness AND that a balance of these six tastes is the way to prime your body and mind for digestion.

Similarly, Chinese medicine recognizes that a balanced diet consists of 5 tastes: spicy, sour, bitter, sweet, and salty.

But it's not just ancient healing medicine that tells us sweet is important - we also know we get great satisfaction from the sweet taste. The trick is, how do we find balance in our desire for sweets and if we want to sweeten foods and drinks, how do we do this in a healthy way?

This article will cover the dangers of sugar and healthy alternatives.

SUGAR BASICS

Most of us have seen white granulated sugar all of our lives, but what makes it bad for us? Made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, sugar (or sucrose) is a carbohydrate. Sucrose is made up of two simpler sugars, fructoseand glucose.

Sucrose is also naturally in plants, including fruit. Most fruits are not on the Body Ecology program, since they are too sweet and feed the systemic fungal infection, candida. Very sour fruits like lemons, limes, black currant juice and sour grapefruit are usually fine for most people.

There IS a difference between naturally occurring sucrose in plants and the sucrose found in granulated sugar or the high fructose corn syrup often used to sweeten processed foods.

Both granulated sugar and high fructose corn syrup go through a refining process...they are called "empty calories" because they offer no nutritional value. In addition, they are addictive and rob your body of energy and health.

25 REASONS TO AVOID SUGAR

Sure sugar tastes good, when you are used to eating the Standard American Diet, high in processed foods. But once you start eating the sour-tasting fermented foods on the Body Ecology program, you lose your cravings for sugar...and you are on your way to natural energy and greater health!

Here some of the dangers of consuming sugar:

1. Feeds candida
2. Promotes wrinkling and aging skin2
3. Makes your blood acidic3
4. Can lead to osteoporosis.4
5. Rots your teeth5
6. Raises your blood sugar level6
7. Contributes to obesity7
8. Is addictive (almost as much as drugs) 8
9. Can create the urge to binge9
10. Provides 'empty calories' with no nutritional value10
11. Contributes to diabetes11
12. Robs your body of minerals.12
13. Robs you of energy13
14. Contributes to heart problems14
15. Can cause cancer15
16. Contributes to ulcers16
17. Can cause gallstones17
18. Contributes to adrenal fatigue
19. Can suppress your immune system18
20. Raises the level of neurotransmitters called serotonin19
21. Weakens eyesight
22. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).
23. Can cause aging20
24. Can contribute to eczema21
25. Can cause arthritis22

To learn more about the dangers of sugar and find out if you're a 'sugarholic', read Lick The Sugar Habit, by Nancy Appelton, PhD.

If you suspect you are a 'sugarholic,' however, this could be a sign you have Candida. Rice University researchers estimate that 70% of Americans have this systemic fungal infection.23 Yes, it is an infection and can become a serious life-threatening infection. The yeast love sugar. When you eat sugar you make your blood more acidic and the yeast infection becomes even more acute.

Fill out this candida questionnaire to find out if candida could be affecting your health.

SWEETS THE BODY ECOLOGY WAY

Once you add fermented foods and drinks to your diet, you will soon lose your desire and cravings for sweet foods.

If you do give in to the temptation of sugar, consider having fermented foods and drinks along with them. The healthy microflora in fermented foods and beverages will use the sugar as its food, reducing the negative effects on your body.

We've heard from many customers, that after being on the Body Ecology program and enjoying fermented foods and drinks, they no longer crave sugar and very importantly find they are quite satisfied with the more subtle natural sweetness in grains, fruit and sweet vegetables. When you do want to sweeten your foods and drinks, Stevia is a great alternative.

Stevia, an extraordinarily sweet herb, is 200 - 300 times sweeter than sugar, has no calories and does not cause a spike in your blood sugar. In fact, the blood sugar spike is what's behind so many of the dangers of sugar.
An Exciting New Sweetener by Body Ecology

For decades, it has been my goal to create healthy, happy adults and children for generations to come. This is what drives my passion for creating and refining the Body Ecology program and bringing healthy products to the market.

Many years ago, I was one of the pioneers who brought stevia into the Western world, eventually perfecting the delicious, safe blend of Stevia with my team at Body Ecology.

More recently, I discovered another all-natural sweetener that has all the benefits of Stevia and more - you can even easily bake with it!

I am so excited about this sweetener because it is one more way that you - and your kids - can enjoy sweet treats without the dangers of sugar. We've been experimenting with this special sweetener in our test kitchens and are excited about how easy and versatile it is. There's nothing else like it on the market!

Stay tuned for our upcoming unveiling of this delicious, healthy new sweetener - it may soon become your favorite way to beat sugar cravings and enjoy the sweet taste we all deserve to have.

Sources

1. Things that Make You Fat. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. December 2004.
   http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/06/earlyshow/series/weightoff/main659299.shtml
2. Perricone, Nicholas, MD, FACP. Ask the Doctor. June 2004.
   http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=2888&query=eating%20sugar&hiword=EATINGA%20SUGA%20SUGARBASED%20SUGARED%20SUGARMAN%20SUGARS%20SUGARY%20eating%20sugar%20
3. Quinn, Shannon. 'I vant good blood.' Better Nutrition. June 1997.
   http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_n6_v59/ai_19462667
4. Appelton, Nancy, PhD. Lick The Sugar Habit, 2nd Edition. Avery. 1988.
5. Foreman, Judy. Sugar's 'empty calories' pile up. Boston Globe. March, 1999.
   http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/health/health_sense/030199.htm
6. Novel Fiber Limits Sugar Absorption. Life Extension Magazine.
   http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/sep2004_cover_fiber_01.htm
7. Ibid.
8. Victory, Joy. Studying the 'Sweet Tooth.' May 2006.
   http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2001298&page=1
9. Ibid.
10. Foreman, Judy. Sugar's 'empty calories' pile up. Boston Globe. March, 1999.
    http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/health/health_sense/030199.htm
11. High Blood Sugar. Life Extension Magazine. July 2005.
    http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=813&query=eating%20sugar&hiword=EATINGA%20SUGA%20SUGARBASED%20SUGARED%20SUGARMAN%20SUGARS%20SUGARY%20eating%20sugar%20
12. Appelton, Nancy, PhD. Lick The Sugar Habit, 2nd Edition. Avery. 1988.
13. Quinn, Shannon. 'I vant good blood.' Better Nutrition. June 1997.
    http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_n6_v59/ai_19462667
14. Quinn, Shannon. 'I vant good blood.' Better Nutrition. June 1997.
    http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_n6_v59/ai_19462667
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Family Nutrition: Sugar. AskDrSears.com.
    http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T045000.asp
19. Appelton, Nancy, PhD. Lick The Sugar Habit, 2nd Edition. Avery. 1988.
20. Ibid.
21. Allen, Shawn, et. al. How Can I Get Relief from Eczema? Natural Health. October 2005.
    http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_9_35/ai_n15674761
22. Appelton, Nancy, PhD. Lick The Sugar Habit, 2nd Edition. Avery. 1988.
23. Biologists ID Defense Mechanism Of Leading Fungal Pathogen. Rice University. June 2004
    http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=4571&SnID=2