In order to have sugar available to all, a beautiful raw sugar cane, rich in minerals and fiber is processed and broken down. A beautiful creation basically becomes a refined mess. It is like dressing Marilyn Monroe in a burlap bag, drinking fine wine out of a paper cup, or finding out the person you have been talking to on-line is not the person in the pictures. Processed sugar loses all its finer qualities. It becomes something else. Something different. Today, more things are being used as sweeteners- beets and even corn are processed to sugars. They are call high fructose corn syrup processed and beet sugar. Studies show high fructose corn syrup in excess can be more harmful then refined sugar cane, and is found in many of foods Americans consume .If you start looking at labels you will see it is in a lot of what we eat.

When we ingest processed sugars, the body wastes no time breaking them down, and sugar floods right into our bloodstream. In response to an overload of processed sugar, insulin is secreted, to restore the body’s balance by taking sugar out of the bloodstream. Some sugar may fill the muscles for energy, but many of us consume too much processed sugar, and the muscles become full. The result is the processed sugar is stored as fat and can, through this vigorous breakdown, cause further harm to our bodies. The body’s natural response is to work hard to reduce sugar levels, causing them to drop too low. The result is the high and then a crash. Also, through the body’s efforts of breaking down processed sugars, it loses minerals and nutrients. In breaking down these sugars, your body is dealing with a substance containing no nutrients and no long term value.

There are over 40 ways process sugar can appear on labels: sugar, refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, beet sugar, sugar cane syrup, dextrose, levulose, galactose, many more…The three most common scientific names for sugar are sucrose, dextrose, and fructose. Did you know in a 16 oz Pepsi there is about 14 teaspoons of sugar? Gatorade has about 9 teaspoons of sugar in a 16 oz bottle. My nutrition school in Manhattan told us the USDA said in 2002 the average American consumed up to 45 pounds of sugar a year. Yikes. Excesses of processed sugar can cause: exhaustion, depression, mood swings and brain fog, suppression of the immune system, upset body mineral balance, kidney damage, chromium deficiency, varicose veins, cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate and rectum and the list could continue…up to 78 ways it can harm the body.

Now what? Great. Are you thinking you can only eat broccoli? No! We, as adults, can begin eating and living a more conscious lifestyle. Learn as much as you can about the effects of sugar and read labels carefully. Try to eat as much unpackaged food as possible. Eat sweet vegetables to help with cravings- carrots, sweet potatoes, raisins, and one of my favorite you can get in bulk foods at Whole Foods -date rolls. There are healthy options. Shop on the outer edges of the grocery store and that is where you will find the fresh food. When buying bagged snacks buy ones where most of the ingredients are recognizable. If you need chocolate- buy dark– chocolate high cacao. Cacao beans are the natural source of all chocolate products. Your body craves chocolate because in its rawest form it is high in antioxidant and magnesium. (good news right) There is a great place to get chocolate in the gayborhood- Marcie Blain Chocolates! Another local company is www.eclatchocolate.com they are in my hometown of West Chester. Most foods in their most natural state are not “bad” for you. Learn how to shop smart for groceries and support local businesses when you can! Frankly, all things in moderation are probably ok. Research, and discover what healthy foods you can find to keep being beautiful!