New Year.....New You
The day after New Years, weight loss advertisements begin. Each program promises results with convincing before and after photos of people, just like you. If you are constantly on one diet or another, then likely there was a breach in the plan and the goal was not met. With so many diet plans available, which one do you choose? Some plans require that the foods be purchased that contain the right ingredients to loose weight, and it probably does. Unfortunately the participants often times gain their weight back. Research has shown that those that teach lifestyle change are the most successful. Habits are difficult to change and require time, discipline, and patience. Of all the plans available, Weight Watchers has been the most successful in the long term weight managment. Being able to use regular food, the participant counts points throughout the day; and once those points are met, no more food should be consumed. This plan teaches one portions and choices that help lead to healthier lifestyle changes. There is also a variety of books and web searches that give valuable information about weight loss, strategies, and plans. Clean eating the newest term circulating in nutritional and social circles. While it seems simple, it requires much more planning. Clean eating teaches using fresh fruits and vegetables and discourages processed, sugary foods.
Several years ago, I learned the negative affects of sugar first hand. During lent, I gave up added sugars. What you need to know is I used to give sugar its own food group category. My sweet tooth has been with me my entire life and it was fed regularly. What I learned during lent, was how much sugar had a hold on me. The cravings were strong in the first days but I just keep telling myself it was only for a little while. In the end, I lost seven pounds! Weight loss wasn't my goal, but a nice side effect. Since then, I've been letting others know about weight gain associated with sugar consumption.
The overconsumption of sugar has led to an increase in the incidence of obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Research points to sugar, not fat as the problem ingredient added to our foods. As a matter of fact, our bodies need fat to adequately use and store vitamins and minerals. Personally, I use olive oil or coconut oil with most of my cooking. As you look to make healthy choices this year, read your lables and sharpen your knives. The more hands-on, the healthier the outcome will be.
Health-bite: curve the sweet tooth, loose the weight
The New Tobacco
For years, ad campaigns show consumers the negative side of tobacco use. Taxes have increased making it more difficult to purchase tobacco products, but I have another addiction issue that is affecting more of us than tobacco. I'll even go as far as to say it's more addicting because it's in virtually everything consumed. Sugar is the new tobacco. Words spoken over a message from a smart phone. The words ring true to me as I have been conducting an action research study about sugars and how it affects our health. I’ve written several posts relating to sugars and its addicting properties. The population is gaining more girth, while Big Food is gaining more profits.
Back in the 1970’s a call to action was made when heart disease was reaching an all time high. Scientists from all over the world where summoned to figure out why the increase in heart disease and a plan to stop it. One scientist, Ancel Keys, a professor from the University of Minnesota, announced that fat was making us fat. He proposed removing fat from our foods was the answer to a healthier heart. As a response to an ongoing call from the public to have healthier food choices, Big Food wasted no time in providing us with “low fat” and “fat free” options. Something needed to be added to the ingredient list so that the food didn’t taste like cardboard. You guessed it…sugar! And we’ve been getting fatter and fatter ever since.
The “no fat” option did not help the heart disease epidemic either; nor has it helped our waist lines. With Type II diabetes on the increase, something else must be the cause. Another voice, spoke out in opposition, John Yudkin, founder of the nutrition department at the University of London’s Queen Elizabeth College, had a different spin on the situation. Yudkin had been doing his own experiments and laid blame not on fat, but the consumption of sugar. His research in laboratory animals fed sugar and carbohydrates showed raised blood levels of tryglycerides which is considered a risk factor for heart disease. Sugar also raised insulin levels, which links it directly to type 2 diabetes. For years, we have known there is a link between oral and systemic disease. High carbohydrate intake can been seen in the oral cavity between weeks or months, however the systemic effects may take decades.
Two patients come to mind that I want you to meet. When Mr. A came into my operatory two years ago, he had a full list of health concerns: diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease to name a few. His medical doctor told him he would likely be on dialysis within four years. He was unable to walk any length of time due to being short of breath and walked with a cane. A year later, Mr. A was back to playing golf, had drastically reduced his diabetes medications while completely eliminating others. He was enjoying life once more. His oral health had also improved. So what changed? Everything! He became a vegetarian, and eats primarily beans, grains and vegetables. He will have some dairy, but very little and almost NO sugar other than honey. He says he feels better now than he has in years.
Ms. C came into my operatory recently looking thin. At first, I thought she was going to tell me had been really sick, and I guess in some way, she was. Ms. C told me she quit eating sugar thirteen months ago! What?!? I asked her what happened thirteen months ago that made her quit eating sugar. Previously, she was diagnosis with Type II diabetes. Even though she went to the gym on a regular basis, she had been unable to loose weight or control the diabetes. When the doctor told her it was time for insulin, that’s when she decided it was time to get serious. She gave up fermentable carbohydrates and lost 65 pounds. She says she feels great, but this new way of eating is difficult when going out to eat. She is determined to continue this lifestyle as she no longer takes any diabetic medications. That’s right…NONE!
What an inspiration they are to all of us. Sugar is the new tobacco. It’s killing us one spoonfull at a time. No amount of exercise will ever beat a bad diet. What we consume should feed our cells, not our tongue. Isn’t it time your took control of what you eat?
health-bite: sugar is serious stuff