| It may be one of the most used products in foods | | | | Sugar is also a major cause of cancer. Believe it or |
| today, but that does not mean that it is safe for | | | | not, a person who is vegetarian or vegan, but |
| consumption. Although there are many other factors | | | | consumes large amounts of sugar on a regular basis is |
| involved in the current health problems facing mankind, | | | | just as bad if not worse than a person who was |
| it's safe to say that refined sugar (table sugar or | | | | eating regular meat. Again this goes back to the fact |
| sucrose) is one of the major factors. | | | | that sugar destroys the immune system and makes it |
| According to research, sugar (sucrose) is actually a | | | | unable to fight off invading bacteria. |
| drug since it contains no nutritional value (unless added | | | | Weight loss is almost impossible to maintain if large |
| otherwise), because of this, it has many disadvantages | | | | amounts of sugar are in the body. The sugar blocks |
| as well as a few advantages. For one it can enter the | | | | the cells fat receptors thus render them useless. More |
| blood stream quickly and provide a boost of energy | | | | importantly they cause the red blood cells to become |
| when needed. However this, if done on a regular basis, | | | | sticky and when this happens, sufficient oxygen is not |
| can be detrimental as it can cause the pancreas to be | | | | able to be delivered to the brain. Sugar also stunts the |
| overworked and thus diabetes can set in. | | | | learning ability of school age children. There is nothing |
| Another problem is that it breaks down the immune | | | | more detrimental to a preschool, kindergarten, |
| system to the point where it is unable to defend the | | | | elementary or high school student than a high sugary |
| body from invading forces. An average white blood | | | | diet. Not only does the refined sugar cause behavioral |
| cell can destroy up to 18 different bacteria before it is | | | | problems, but it stunts comprehension skills and thus |
| killed. However, by the time there are 24 teaspoons of | | | | dwarfs the child or teens ability to learn. |
| sugar in the bloodstream, that number drops down to | | | | The best way to fight sugar is to substitute it for other |
| one. The average soda pop contains 10 to 12 | | | | things (in moderation). Any type of sweetener in |
| teaspoons and a slice of chocolate cake contains 4 or | | | | excess will produce the same effects, but if it is used |
| more teaspoons. Thus it's pretty evident why we get | | | | in moderation, sweeteners like maple syrup, molasses, |
| colds so easily; our immune systems are not up to par | | | | honey and sugar in the raw as well as Florida Crystal |
| and cannot defend the body when the need arises. | | | | are much better alternatives. |