Sugar irresistible temptation
“Sweet” is our favorite flavor. Our desire for sugar is completely natural. All life has its origin in these glucose molecules, perhaps the most fascinating invention of nature in 4 billion years. But one must not exaggerate.

Consumption
Each year we consume about 50 kg of sugar per person. How? It‘s found in 80% of the food we eat; too often in unexpected products: meat and sausages, sauces, yogurt, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, ketchup, muesli, fast-food, pizza, smoked salmon, canned vegetables, etc..

Decomposition and effect
During the production of white (refined) sugar, natural sugar cane is stripped of minerals and other valuable nutrients. It is precisely these minerals that the body needs to process sugar. Since they no longer “come” with the sugar, the body has to resort to its own supplies, therefore, depleting or demineralizing itself. It has been scientifically proven that sugar has an addictive factor.

Small particles of artificially made sugar (soluble glucose) pass directly into the bloodstream without being broken down in the stomach and intestinal tract. The blood sugar level rises suddenly and then falls below normal. This “pendulum” effect from one extreme to the other causes what is known as the “sugar blues.” When the body cells cannot uptake more glucose molecules, the excess blood sugar is transported to the liver, processed and deposited as fat reserves in different parts of the body. It’s called gaining weight.

Sweeteners
Natural or artificial sugars are often not well reported in food labels. You can find terms such as lactose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, lactitol, xylitol, sorbitol, isomalt, levulose, oligofructose, etc. These terms are hardly recognizable for most buyers.

Discomforts
Possible discomforts when consuming white (refined) sugar:
tiredness, lack of concentration, hyperactivity, digestive problems, Candida, tooth decay, obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, excessive acidity of the cells, because the metabolism of sugar causes residues of acid.

Alternatives
There are alternatives to replace white sugar such as maple syrup, honey, molasses, rice, dried fruits or stevia: they all contain valuable minerals. However, their metabolism is the same as that of sugar (acidic) and they all contain calories (except for stevia). So even the healthier alternatives should also be consumed in moderation! It is best to gradually get used to eating less sweet.

An example: sweeten plain yogurt with fresh or cooked fruit instead of buying flavored yogurt that contains a considerable amount of sugar.

Interesting to read:
William Dufty: Sugar Blues (English)