Publisher’s Points to Ponder: Sugar! Sugar!
What is the deal with sugar? Why are some of us so addicted to it? I believe sugar addiction is as real as any other addiction. I would be remiss if I did not mention the rat study that proved just how addictive sugar is.
A few years ago, a study with rats showed the vast majority selected sugar over cocaine and opioids. The researchers concluded that both drugs and sugar have similar effects on the brain. I experience firsthand the withdrawal symptoms when I quit sugar cold turkey. I know this next statement will sound a bit dramatic, but THE OVER CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR SHOULD BE CRIMINAL. Too dramatic? Maybe.
Before you judge my opinion about regulating sugar, please watch the 2014 documentary “Fed Up,” narrated by Katie Couric. Not only does this documentary reveal details about the rat study, but it also unveils the hidden names of sugar. There are more than 56 names for sugar. Of course, at the top of the list is sucrose that is also known as table sugar, which is extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets. When I was younger, I remember running behind the sugar cane truck to gather the stalks that fell off. I suppose that was how my relationship with sugar began. Well, you don’t have to chase the sugar cane truck to get your fix. You can find sucrose in foods such as processed meat, fruit juices, ketchup and soda. Second on the list is high fructose corn syrup, which is also found in soda, bread and cereal bars. I bet you thought cereal bars were healthy, didn’t you?
Sugar also is disguised as glucose, lactose, dextrose, and just about every ingredient ending in -ose. It is essential to read labels before you purchase a product. All of us can do a better job of reducing our consumption of sugar. When we eat too much sugar, we increase our chances of gaining weight and getting diabetes. Other risks associated with the overconsumption of sugar include heart disease and cancer. Read the labels. You would be surprised to discover that some frozen vegetables also contain sugar. Sugar is found in many unlikely foods because it serves as a preservative. It is worth repeating…READ THE LABELS.
I know I’m writing this close to Halloween, so parents don’t be too hard on the kiddos or yourself. Everything sweet may be enjoyed in moderation. For example, if you reduce the amount of hidden sugar in processed meat, you may be able to enjoy some of that Halloween candy. Also, if you are craving an apple pie, eat an apple. By the way, the sugar in fruit is not bad because it is balanced with the fiber in fruit.
With or without sugar, life is still sweet!