LifeHakx - The Answer to "All Sugar Is Bad."
By Eva Wisenbeck 1/12/2019
True or False? All Sugar Is Bad.
Truth: Refined sugars are bad for you! Natural sugars can provide many health benefits.
Solution: Use natural sweeteners in moderation such as raw honey, coconut sugar, raw stevia, dates, monk fruit and blackstrap molasses. Also play with using fruit such as apples, banana etc.
So, yes, refined sugars are bad! They are high in calories and affect the production of insulin. A diet high in refined sugars is linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and pancreatic cancer.
And just because refined sugars are bad, it does not mean we should rush out and start using artificial sweeteners, either. If you have been lured into believing that all natural sugars are bad, and you are consuming artificial sweeteners, please stop immediately!
Coconut sugar, raw stevia, dates, monk fruit, blackstrap molasses and honey are just a few of the naturally sweet, yet nutritious, sweeteners available.
Using raw (local) honey as an example of a good natural sweetener it is packed with therapeutic benefits including boosting immune system function, supporting restful sleep and may help you lose or manage your weight. It is rich with amino acids, B vitamins, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and other essential minerals.
Also keep in mind that it’s not just the obvious sugar in cakes, treats etc there is so much hidden sugar particularly in processed foods. This statement refers to America but we have the same issues in Europe and beyond: “"According to sugarscience.org, added sugar is hiding in 74% of packaged foods and there are at least 61 different names used for it on labels." I’ll just repeat that …61 different names for sugar on food labels!!
I think we can all agree that’s not done to help us consumers or to provide clarity ;)
And I will finish with this from Dr Mark Hyman “Sugar (of any kind) should be seen as a recreational drug”! I love this, so although we are saying natural sugars are much better than refined sugar and has some health benefits – well – it’s still sugar and should be seen and used as an occasional treat.
This is based on a wonderful article by the great Dr Josh Axe and his roundup of “The 11 Largest Nutrition Lies In the Media” for more details and links to the research papers and studies please look here: https://draxe.com/health/nutrition-lies/
If you are curious and would like more information about refined sugar and natural sugar alternatives and the latest research here are some great resources.
Chris Kresser “Here’s the Research on Sugar and Health”
Mark Hyman “Top 10 Big Ideas: How to Detox from Sugar” https://drhyman.com/blog/2014/03/06/top-10-big-ideas-detox-sugar/
Chris Kresser, review of 3 top natural sweeteners “Does It Matter If a Sweetener Is “Natural”?” https://chriskresser.com/does-it-matter-if-a-sweetener-is-natural/
Josh Axe “The 5 Worst Artificial Sweeteners, Plus Healthy Alternatives” https://draxe.com/nutrition/artificial-sweeteners/
Chris Kresser “Here Are the Top 5 Health Benefits of Honey”
