The world of sugar is a complicated one. So complicated that our lives are in jeopardy because of it.

Who would think that having a sweet tooth could alter your life? But then there are many people through no fault of their own, eat it, but never add sugar to their food or eat sweets. These innocent people think of sugar as the stuff you add to coffee or tea or things like candy or chocolate, but unfortunately it’s everywhere. If you buy everything from the store then it’s in your bread, cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, juice, snacks…

In the U.S., we consume more sugar then any other nation but the warnings against it have fallen on deaf ears because it’s effects have been completely understated.

Sugar really is a complicated and diverse substance. What is put in our food today is so far removed from the sugar cane harvested a century ago. So in order to simplify this from the version men in lab coats have stated to better understand the role of sugar in your life, I’ll give as streamline an explanation as possible: What happens when we consume sugar, the 3 types of sugar and what to do to bring blood sugar level back to normal.

What happens when we eat sugar?

Glucose (sugar in food) enters the bloodstream and blood sugar levels rise. Insulin is produced, attaches to a healthy cell to open it up and let in the glucose and use it as energy. Glucose then slowly leaves the bloodstream and the blood sugar levels are back to normal. Now an excess of it is stored in the liver or muscles as glycogen and once they are full, it is stored as fat in fat cells to be used later.

Then after that the pancreas stops producing insulin, which signals the brain to release serotonin which makes you feel fed and satisfied.

Now if the body has damaged cells (cells become damaged for several reasons such as poor diet, stress, no sleep, no exercise, toxic build up in the liver, etc.) then only some insulin will attach to the cell leaving more glucose in the blood stream than entering the cell. The pancreas see the glucose that is still in the blood stream and keeps producing insulin to clear it up. The pancreas is over-worked because the cells are not responding to the insulin it’s producing and it results in the pancreas malfunctioning. Because insulin levels are still high the serotonin from the brain is not released so hunger and cravings are a constant problem. Hypoglycemia (the feeling of starving every couple of hours) is just the first stage of diabetes.

So here is a break down of the 3 different types of sugar: The Good, the Bad, and some so bad, there’s no other word from them but Ugly.

The Good: (The Un-Altered, Real Thing)

The sugar cane plant, fructose (naturally occurring sugar in fruits), Molasses, Sucanat (evaporated cane juice), Stevia (also known as Xylitol, a natural sweet substance from vegetables), Honey and Maple Syrup (from nectar). These produce lower levels of glucose in the bloodstream.

These sugars are in their most natural form. Although people with diabetes should avoid all sugar, there are healthy substitutes such as Stevia which contains 0 grams of sugar-and it’s good for your teeth. For the longest time, diabetics were told not to consume fruit but fructose from fruit will not raise glucose levels in the blood, plus the anti-oxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals are beneficial.

Sugar types such as Molasses, Honey, and Maple syrup contain nutrients such as B complex vitamins, fiber and iron and un-refined honey contains anti-oxidants that are good for your immune system. Although sugar should always be consumed in moderation, a healthy body can handle these forms.

The Bad: (Processed and Refined)

Processed refined white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fast food, and sorry to say, cows milk. These produce very high levels of glucose in the blood stream.

These sugars contribute to the diabetic epidemic the U.S. is suffering and yet they are a staple in the our diet. 1 teaspoon of white processed sugar contains at least 10 more grams of sugar per volume than 1 teaspoon of evaporated cane juice. So the grams of sugar per volume are much, much higher and the body has to work harder and harder to burn it up as energy.

High Fructose Corn Syrup has a very high level of sugar that is designed to be addicting and contributes to the epidemic of obesity since excess glycogen is stored as fat.

Children typically get “the sugar rush” after eating a handful of candy which is why parents restrict their “sugar” intake. However children are still getting tons of sugar into their system with all children’s cereals, the beverages they drink, and all of the fancy “healthy” snacks that are designed to get kids to eat “healthy.”

Adults on the other hand don’t get the sugar rush but more of a sugar “slush.” People will often confuse this low feeling as hunger and to some degree it is. The body is hungry for real nutrition to give real energy and not the “jitters” and it is tired from an over-worked pancreas. But instead of eating protein or fiber that really do give energy, people will reach for a carbonated drink or a sugary snack to “pick them up” but they will only get that crashing and burning feeling later that day.

Digestion and immunity fail because with the over abundance of sugar in the blood, the body is desperately trying to burn it all making it weak and susceptible which is why you get that “sluggish” feeling. The point where the body cannot burn any more is a very fatal stage of diabetes.

The U.S. consumes more cows milk than any other nation and yet has the largest population of sufferers of Osteoporosis in the world. Have you ever wondered why you couldn’t give a baby cows milk until they were at least a year old? Cows milk raises the glucose levels in blood and is the usual suspect of the onset of childhood diabetes. I will have a post on dairy and dairy substitutes in the near future. To learn more about the dangers of cows milk, read this article by Michael Dye and go to www.NOTMILK.com

The Ugly: (Artificial Sweeteners-Toxic Chemicals)

Nutrasweet, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Equal, all of which contain chemicals aspartame (one of the most dangerous), acesulfame, neotame, sucralose (not approved in European nations), and saccharin to name a few. These contain toxins that add to the overall damage of high glucose levels and more.

These sweet chemicals were originally used as a substitute in foods and snacks geared towards people who were watching their glucose levels and sugar intake, but now they being used in everything along with sugar!

Artificial sweeteners are made up of toxic chemicals (most of which are carcinogenic) that cause another set of serious health problems besides what sugar can do. Chemical imbalances and toxic build up in the body leading to cancer and weight gain (doesn’t that defeat the purpose) and in the brain causing headaches, mood swings, depression, and can lead down the road to Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

Artificial sweeteners cost a fraction of what it takes to process sugar yet it is costing us our health and our lives.

What to do to get sugar and toxins out of the body?

If you value your health, then eliminate foods that are damaging your body. That includes all carbonated beverages, alcohol (beer especially) sugar or “sugar-free” snakes that will contain both real and artificial sweeteners, white sugar, white flour, and cow’s milk. Besides the problems stated above, bacteria in the body thrives on sugar, so if you suffer from constant illness, eliminating sugar will starve the bacteria into submission.

Start adding raw, fresh food that is as close to nature as possible. Fruits, vegetables, and meats from an organic farm. You can find a organic farm near you by going to www.localharvest.org.

Try using goats cheese and yogurt. Goat’s milk is almost identical to human’s milk but if you find it too sour to stand then maybe try soy milk. Soy is very good for your bones and loaded with protein. There is however an alarming amount of soy that is genetically modified in the U.S. but where ever you can find soy milk, you can also find almond milk which is very good for you and delicious!

Drink water to hydrate, help flush out the system and eat more protein. Protein restores the body at the cellular level and wards off the hunger that causes people to get sugary snacks. Other foods and nutrients that help are alfalfa, probiotics, B complex vitamins, vitamin E, Calcium (from other foods, not cow’s milk), and fiber. There are great supplements to help Regulate Glucose Levels.

Exercise not only burns calories but it also eliminates toxins and burns sugar stored in the body, even for people with diabetes.

Unfortunately we have some very corrupt politics in our country that have led to the health problems caused by the “food” we eat. But we can survive it if we educate ourselves, watch out for what is beneficial or detrimental to our health, plant our own gardens, and speak out against injustice. Together we can make some great changes and you can start today with improving your health. You need to be healthy to fight the good fight.

Thank you for stopping by! If you are as health conscious as I am, could you please do me a favor (actually do everybody a favor) and send this to your friends and followers for me? We need as many people on our side as we can get. To get more information, add me as a friend and CONTACT ME HERE. Blood sugar problems are lethal but there are ways to combat it. You can live a healthier life!

Your friend,