Clarifying Myths about Sugar (August 2009)

In my private practice about 40% of my clients have diabetes. It seems to be a misconception that eating sugar or having a craving for sweet foods is what has caused their blood sugar problem.

One of the hallmarks of the disease is elevated blood sugar, so many people assume what they are eating has contributed to diabetes. Sugar does not literally go from mouth to bloodstream. The exact trigger for diabetes isn’t well understood, but genetic and lifestyle factors- such as being overweight and sedentary appear to play key roles.

The truth about diabetes is that staying at a healthy weight lowers your diabetes risk regardless of how much sugar you eat. This does not mean go out and eat sugar rich foods if you have the tendency to have elevated blood sugar.

Another myth is that eating sugar causes one to break out or cause wrinkles. Eating a lot of sugary foods can trigger chronic low level inflammation throughout your body, which sends the aging process into overdrive. Sugar’s inflammatory effects create free radicals which wear down elastin, another skin saving protein.

Pack your diet with produce, herbs, spices, oregano, cinnamon, ginger and turmeric. They all have antioxidant properties and fight wrinkles.

Many people believe eating sugar will make them fat which are false. In fact eating too many calories can cause ones weight too increase, whether they come from brownies or broccoli? When was the last time you overate broccoli? Sugary foods tends to be high calorie and easy to overeat. They cause a spike in blood sugar; follow by a sudden drop that can leave you feeling depleted and hungry.

The facts about sugar are that if you limit less than 10 percent of your daily calories to added sugar that is great! What that would look like is the following: If you ate 1,800 calories that is 180 calories from sugar or 11 ¼ teaspoons.