VIE – People + Places | For the Love of Food

Whole Food Eating: Sugar

Fri, Jan 27th, 2012 by Tim Dutrow

Last week I discussed the healthful benefits of eating whole wheat bread & pasta. I’d like to discuss sugar this week, since grain & sugar seem to be the biggest contributor to poor diet & health. You’d be surprised how much better you’d feel & look by simply cutting out processed grain & sugar from your diet.

Lets’ begin by discussing processed sugar. First, it’s processed. “Such sugars are generally labeled as sugar, corn syrup, glucose, cane juice, brown sugar, sucrose, fructose, and powdered sugar. These simple sugars are stripped of all fiber and nutrients and the body recognizes them as a harmful toxin.This first category of sugars are harmful due to their ability to raise blood sugar levels, increase fat storage, create acidity (the environment in which bacteria and disease can grow) and much more. Read Labels! Sugar found naturally in whole foods are better absorbed and broken down by the body. Whole food sugars can be found in raw fruit, dates, whole grains, raw vegetables (squash, carrots, corn, etc.), legumes. These simple and complex carbohydrates are packed with fiber, nutrients, and enzymes to easily distribute throughout the body. Eat these naturally sugar-rich foods moderately and try to eat them in their raw, uncooked state as much as possible.” (Information from justgoodenergy.com)

I only use “Sugar In The Raw” when a recipe calls for sugar. Eating more sugar than your body can process will cause your liver to create fatty acids & become stored in the common areas we’re all aware of (hips, stomach, etc.), so try to keep sugar consumption to a minimum. Try using half the sugar a recipe calls for when baking or cooking. I also find eating a good amount of green leafy vegetables helps to reduce my sugar cravings. While I enjoy all vegetables, some don’t. So I recommend supplementing your diet with a green super food such as Wheat Grass, so your sugar cravings are kept in check. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, so as I have discussed earlier in my posts, try to keep it simple & listen to your body. As my father says, “everything in moderation.” He’s 83, in great shape & still plays drums professionally on a regular basis.

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