Stress And Sugar
by Lynn Nicholson S.N.H.S Dip
Stress is the great problem in Western society today.
Excluding addictions to alcohol and drugs, the next nasty problem is probably sugar.
The problem with sugar, and we are talking refined here, is that it is added to almost all of the prepared food that we eat. Now this causes a massive problem for our children, because hidden sugar is causing problems for the future, setting them up for a life of ill health and maybe diabetes.
 Manufacturers of food have been adding more and more sugar to foods to make them sweet, this way they are easier to sell, especially to children, but this means, like a drug, we need more and more of it, unfortunately, unlike drugs, it is not monitored, so we really are at the mercy of the manufacturers when we buy processed or prepared foods.
A strong argument indeed for buying fresh ingredients and preparing your own meals!
Refined sugar has a drug like effect on the body. It is a very powerful stimulant, and this is particularly true of those who have developed a dependency on it. Is that you? Well, maybe you start your day with a cereal, already with sugar in it, add milk and then put more sugar on top. You maybe cannot start your day without tea or coffee with sugar in it. A couple of biscuits mid morning, another fix of sugar, something for lunch, sugar hidden in there somewhere, a can of fizzy drink, that can have up to 20 teaspoons hidden in it, then maybe a chocolate bar in the afternoon, a few more cups of tea or coffee, a couple of drinks later, and you start to see how much sugar you could be consuming.
The problem is, these valueless foods fill you up and provide an instant lift, but they take the place of the foods that your body really needs. You often find you a re even hungrier after the initial lift of the sugar has worn off; this is because your body starts screaming out for what it really needs, vitamins and minerals. This in the long term becomes very damaging. So consider if you are trying to control your intake of food, eating sugary foods will increase your appetite.
We need to start educating ourselves, and our children, to opt for healthier sweet options like fruit. Get into the habit of dropping an apple or a banana into your bag to snack on. Buy small bags of nuts or dried fruit. Most importantly, do not wait until you are ready to kill someone if you do not eat before you do, this is when the vending machine becomes your dealer.
You do get an instant lift of energy, but the use of sugar is so quick that you find yourself wanting more. This is where the strong link with stress lies.
Once the lift has worn off, we are left feeling a whole lot worse than before. People start to show signs of erratic behaviour, mood swings and aggression. Look at the links now with disruptive children and their diets.
 The other serious consideration is that our bodies are not designed to consume refined sugar, so this then puts a strain, and added stress, on our internal organs. If you want to feel good you need to think about what is happening on the inside, as what happens on the inside reflects how you feel and how you look. If you put rubbish in your system you will eventually look rubbish! Sounds harsh, but nobody wants to look grey and worn out. We all want to look fresh, youthful and alive!
If you want to become more sugar aware, avoid sugar for two weeks, and I mean all sugar, so check what you are eating, and after two weeks, eat a spoonful of sugar. The taste will seem overpoweringly sweet, and it will, or at least it should!, turn you off sugar for quite a while.
Good food, a balanced diet and taking care of yourself mentally and emotionally will give you all the highs you need, and they will be long lasting, not short lived. They will also help you lead a long and healthy life. Is refined sugar really worth giving up all that?
Check out the author's website:
www.judrop.com
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See Also:
Bach And Bush Flowers
Health_MOT
PMS
Mentally Disabled Children
The Elixir Of Life
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