Why Sugar is Bad

I was going to write my next blog about lunches, but I decided to enlighten my few readers on the evils of sugar. I took the following list from the diet cure. It details everything that is wrong with sugar. Be forewarned, it's loooooong.

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the minerals in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar produces a significant rise in triglycerides, a leading cause of heart disease.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection.
6. Sugar can cause kidney damage.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the breast, ovaries, intestines, prostate and rectum.
10. Sugar consumption is the top cause of type II diabetes, as it increases levels of glucose and insulin.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters called serotonin
14. Sugar weakens eyesight.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).
16. Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
17. Sugar can raise adrenalin levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar consumption can cause aging.
20. Sugar consumption can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar consumption is the top cause of tooth decay.
22. Sugar use contributes to obesity.
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's Disease, and ulcerative colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes associated with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar can cause candida albicans (yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones to form.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
40. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
44. Sugar can cause migraine headaches.
45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. Sugar causes food allergies.
47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA.
52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. Sugar can cause cataracts.
55. Sugar can cause emphysema.
56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density proteins (LDL).
58. Sugar can increase free radicals in the blood stream,
59. Sugar can cause overeating.

Now I have a background in biology (I used to work in a molecular biology lab) and medicine (alright, veterinary medicine, but the main ideas are the same: the heart pumps blood, the kidney filters, the brain controls everything, etc.), but a lot of the science behind this is beyond me (I don't know much about biochemistry or cellular biology) so I can't back up everything on this list, but the author can. If you check out the webpage, you can see references for all of these claims.

The writer of The Diet Cure, the well-respected Julia Ross, also theorizes that many people are actually allergic to sugar (along with gluten and dairy). When one who is allergic ingests sugar, it triggers the release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are the body's natural painkillers. To give you an idea of how great they are, think about this: they are one of the chemicals released when you have an orgasm. One understandably becomes addicted to these chemicals, leading to cravings for the substance (sugar, gluten, dairy). Ultimately, this becomes an addiction.

Why don't you hear about these dangers? Because the sugar lobby is very powerful. America has a large sugar industry. The FDA and USDA are two of the most corrupt and partisan government agencies, which explains why none of these facts have been brought to light.

Eliminating sugar is one of the most important things you can do for your health. If you are allergic, it may be one of the hardest. (Buy the book, and it will detail how to deal with an addiction to sugar. I have no stake in you buying it, but I think it's that good of a book.)