I have kind of been dreading this next installment: the dangers of sugar. Part of me wants and needs to know exactly how bad this stuff is for me but the other part of me would like to just keep enjoying it and not worry about its destructive effects. Also, I don't want to come across completely doom and gloom. I think, though, that if I'm going to effectively fight this war against sugar, I have to be totally honest with myself about what it is that I'm fighting against. So here goes, a roundup of information detailing how sugar affects our systems:depresses the immune system
leads to cardiovascular disease, asthma, mood swings, personality changes, mental illness, nervous disorders, gallstones, arthritis
obesity
tooth decay
digestive diseases
toxemia during pregnancy
eczema
blood clots and strokes
cancer
messes up the mineral balance in the body
anxiety
premature aging
alcoholism
weakens eyesight
yeast infections
hemorrhoids
appendicitis
varicose veins
osteoporosis
food allergies
interferes with absorption of protein
kidney stones
liver damage
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Oy. I cannot go on. If you need to know more about this stuff, you can check the references on this site: http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/dangers_of_sugar.htm or just google dangers of sugar and you'll find a vast array of scary stuff.
Oh deary me. Some of the women in my food addiction group were talking about how they specifically felt God calling them away from sugar. All together. I can see it. Gosh, a lot of them have come down from almost hitting 300 lbs and look GREAT. I found myself today in Trader Joe's even sorta lingering around the sugar section. It's packaged so beautifully there! And at Trader Joe's it's bad- it feels like if you buy it from there is possibly could be good for you. LOL. Anyway, for the first time in- ever I suppose, I just told myself- get away FAST. Don't think, just walk. I think my staying away from sugar thing just probably needs to be a black and white decision. Don't think, just do (not, I mean).
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about TJs, Megan! I have to be really careful about snacks and treats there because they're so tempting. It's easier to turn down packaged snacks at the grocery store when they're filled with transfats and high fructose corn syrup.
ReplyDeleteBut my real problem is loving to bake. I'm hoping if I start baking our own whole wheat bread, that'll fill the need, and we'll have something fresh and yummy that's good for us!
Emily, I knew sugar was associated with a lot of bad things, but I didn't know ALL of those -- good grief!