Sweet and Sugar Are Not the Same

While we are consuming record amounts of sugar per day and suffering the health consequences, sweet is actually an important nutrient and part of our overall balance.

How often do you crave something sweet? Every day?  More than once per day?

The average American consumes approximately 21.4 teaspoons of sugar a day! Imagine sitting down to a meal and consuming 7 teaspoons of sugar at each meal!  Studies vary between 130-180 pounds of sugar per person, per year.  What’s even more alarming is that children are consuming on the average 32 tsp. of sugar daily. Did you know that the amount of sugar in infant formula is equivalent to a can of soda?

Death by sugar is not an overstatement.  

Most people I work with are vaguely aware of these statistics but rarely think it is true for them. Part of the reason is that sugar is in almost everything-from staples to toothpaste. The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than 6.5 teaspoons of sugar while men get no more than 9.5 teaspoons per day. 

According to Ayurveda, when we consume more sugar than our body can metabolize, our body transforms it into Ama (toxins) which pollute our blood, tissue, and vital organs. Ama results in overall poor health. Just some of the devastating effects are high blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, circulatory challenges, obesity, tooth decay, elimination problems, a weakened immune system, behavioral changes, increased triglycerides, and a contributor to chronic disease.  While most people are aware of the devastating effects of too much sugar, sadly, most are completely unaware of the sheer volume of sugar in their daily diets.  By cutting out or drastically reducing your consumption of sugary foods and foods high in refined carbohydrates, you will almost certainly notice an improvement in energy, immunity and overall health.

So what is the difference between sweet and sugar?

The first taste we develop is the taste for sweet. Of the six vital tastes, the sweet taste is actually nourishing and growth producing. It helps build and repair tissue and is the predominant energy in most foods. Sweet is primarily proteins, carbs, and fats. Nearly all staple foods, vegetable oils, nuts, sugars and syrups, dairy products, and meat are classified as sweet tasting. Provided such foods are not consumed in excess, they are nourishing, but they can also be fattening and congesting.

So while sweet tasting foods are stabilizing, tonifying, and calming—and absolutely necessary, they are contraindicated once the optimum level of consumption is reached. We are reaching this level far faster than we realize.

The surprise for most people I work with is when you combine the total number of sweet foods AND the sugar consumed in a day, the total amount is staggering. I have worked with individuals that the amount of sweet and sugar consumed is over 85% of their daily diet. Simply modifying their sweet intake and balancing the six vital tastes has done wonders for their overall health and energy. In fact, for those seeking a boost in energy, it is often more effective to eat something very spicy that liberates stored sugars than to wolf down a chocolate bar.

Simple Solutions:

·         Plan your meals AND your snacks and don’t skip meals. (Remember if you are of a Kapha nature, snacks can be skipped).
·        Shift your diet to whole grains (the amount of grains consumed in a day should be no larger than your fist.), legumes, nuts and seeds, and fresh whole fruits and vegetables. This absorbs more slowly and eliminates peaks and drops in blood sugar and reduces your cravings.
·         Include all six colors of the rainbow in your daily diet.
·         Eat you main meal at lunch time and a lighter meal before 7pm.
·         Get enough rest.
·         Turn off the TV (you’ll move more and snack less).
·         Move a minimum of 20 min every day (walking is great for everyone!).
·         Remove nervous energy and sit in quiet for at least a few minutes each day while taking deep cleansing breaths.
·         Read the label and be aware of you liquid calories.
·         Refrain from substituting foods for emotional needs

Remember the journey to health is one step at a time.

 

I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces

for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.
Og Mandino

 

Ref: mercola.com; American Heart association