The Sweet Trap: Understanding Sugar's Hold on Us

We love sweet things. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate found naturally in foods such as legumes, grains, vegetables, and fruits.

In its unprocessed form, sugar contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins. Natural carbohydrates break down and enter the bloodstream smoothly, allowing our bodies to absorb the good substances.

Refined table sugar, also known as sucrose, is different from natural sugar. It is produced from sugarcane or sugar beets and contains no vitamins, minerals, or dietary fibers, so the body has to exert effort to digest it. Instead of providing the body with nutrients, processed sugar leads to nutritional deficiencies. It enters the bloodstream quickly and wreaks havoc on the body. It spikes blood sugar levels, which can cause irritability, stress, and hyperactivity, followed by a crash in blood sugar that leads to fatigue, depression, and exhaustion.

Many are aware that sugar consumption causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels, but few are cognizant of the emotional ups and downs that accompany this phenomenon. We feel happy and energetic, then suddenly find ourselves in an energy slump.

Sugar is considered addictive, and even a small amount creates cravings for more. A sudden halt in sugar consumption can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, and more.

Today, sugar is found in most foods, often hidden under other names like corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, glucose, and fructose. Even foods considered healthy may contain sugar, such as health bars, canned vegetables, tomato sauce, breakfast cereals, peanut butter, bread, and more.

One alarming statistic is the rate at which new diabetes cases are being diagnosed. This is particularly sad considering that the disease can be prevented through healthy eating.

Unwittingly, we have created a dangerous cycle – eating sugar, feeling a high, then crashing afterward and needing more sugar to restart the cycle.

If we eat a balanced diet, we can supply our bodies with moderate sweetness from vegetables and fruits, eliminating the need for large amounts of sugar to boost energy levels.

Alternatives to sugar include natural date syrup, real honey, maple syrup, and molasses — all natural sweeteners. However, they are not recommended for those already diagnosed with diabetes. For diabetics, using real stevia is advised.

Zoharah Sharvit is a naturopath N.D., and an iridologist, with many years of experience in treatment, consulting, and workshop facilitation. To book a free workshop, call 073-2221290.